Toronto says Billy Bishop expansion could affect waterfront housing plans

Toronto’s chief planner says a major expansion of Billy Bishop Airport could affect thousands of existing and planned housing units along the city’s waterfront. According to a city analysis, about 86,000 units in the development pipeline already sit under the airport’s current flight paths. If the airport is expanded to accommodate jets and more passengers, that figure could rise to roughly 94,000, while the number of existing units affected could increase by about 25,000. City staff say the impacts could include lower building heights and design changes such as nonopening windows, no balconies, and limits on rooftop amenities. Officials also warned that added traffic could strain nearby roads and transit service, including the Gardiner Expressway, Lakeshore Boulevard, and TTC streetcar routes. The report was prepared before any detailed expansion proposal was released, using earlier airport plans and flightpath assumptions. The issue is now under review as provincial and federal discussions continue over the future of the Toronto island airport.