Report to Development Services
Committee Date of
Meeting:
SUBJECT: Proposed Work Program for the Directed Growth Strategy
Leading to a New Official Plan
PREPARED BY: T. J. Lambe, Manager, Policy and Research Division
RECOMMENDATION:
That the report entitled “Proposed Work Program for a Directed Growth Strategy Leading to a New Official Plan”, dated November 6, 2007, be received;
And That the Director of
· the project phases outlined,
· arrangements for designing the consultation/communication program and completing the required studies,
· arrangements for staffing and consultants, and,
· analysis leading to recommendations for a preferred growth option,
subject to required budget approvals by Council;
And That Hemson Consulting Limited be retained as the preferred supplier to assist the Town in completing technical analyses for the growth forecasts, and for the development and evaluation of growth options, and related work, subject to required budget approvals by Council;
And That the 2008 Capital Budget requests to fund work relating to the preparation of a Directed Growth Strategy be approved through the ongoing budget process;
And That Council identify the preparation of a Directed Growth Strategy and New Official Plan amongst its near term strategic priorities;
And That Staff report further, as necessary, in regard to individual components of the work program;
And that Staff be authorized and
directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Town of
It is understood that the program to develop the Directed
Growth Strategy will involve extensive public consultation and coordination
with various Town departments, other levels of government, public agencies, the
This report outlines and recommends a work program to prepare
a Directed Growth Strategy for the Town. Council’s approval of the work program
is requested. As the work on the Directed Growth Strategy progresses, regular
updates, and reports as needed, will be submitted to the Development Services Committee.
At the request of the Committee, following a presentation regarding the
proposed Directed Growth Strategy on
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
Funding for work required to complete the Directed Growth Strategy will be included in the Capital Budget on an annual basis. Some funding is already approved for studies in progress, or through the 2007 Capital Budget. Additional funding is requested in the 2008 Capital Budget; the work program outlined in this report will require approval of these budget requests. Future funding requirements will be included in subsequent budget submissions.
1. Purpose 2.
Background 3. Discussion 4.
Financial
5. Others (Environmental,
Accessibility, Engage 21st, Affected Units) 6. Attachment(s)
This report requests approval to
proceed with the recommended program to prepare a Directed Growth Strategy leading
to a new Official Plan for the Town of
New Provincial legislation and new Regional planning policies,
established in the period between 2004 and 2006, have significantly changed the policy framework for land
use planning and environmental protection within which the Town operates.
1.0
Provincial
Legislation
Between 2004 and 2006 the Province established, through new legislation,
several requirements for municipal planning that affect the Town of
·
revisions
to the
·
a new
Provincial Policy Statement under the Planning Act;
·
the Oak
Ridges Moraine Act and Plan;
·
the
·
the
Places to Grow Act and the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
The Provincial Plans and planning reforms establish a provincial framework to guide
municipalities in managing future growth.
The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) assigns population and employment growth in priority locations
within the GGH Regions, in order to decrease pressures for growth on other significant
natural heritage areas and agricultural lands within these Regions. Municipalities
are required to establish policies to accommodate growth in the context of
Provincial Plans and policies.
Growth is
primarily directed to locations where it has historically been greatest, where the
infrastructure capacity to serve new development is already well developed, and
can be most efficiently upgraded and where there is experience in managing
significant growth over time. The Plan links infrastructure investment (eg
transit systems) to growth policies emphasizing compact development form, mixed
use and higher densities. The Plan emphasizes a balanced approach to managing
growth across the GGH that seeks to accommodate new growth and maintain
economic prosperity while protecting greenspace and maintaining a high quality
of life for those living and working in the GGH.
The new Provincial legislation requires implementing actions from
municipalities to ensure conformity of local planning policies and practices.
The Town has already implemented the Oak Ridges Moraine Act and Plan. It is now
necessary for the Town to implement other new Provincial legislation and
Regional policies, including the new planning policies that the Region will
also establish in response to the new legislation.
1.1
The Greenbelt Act and the Greenbelt
Plan were released in February 2005. The Plan relates to approximately 5200 ha
of land in
Council has formally expressed
support for the Greenbelt Plan. In October 2005, the Town adopted OPA No.140
establishing policies for the Rouge North Management Area and incorporating references to ensure conformity with the
policy direction identified in the Greenbelt Plan. However, these
references do not achieve full conformity with the Greenbelt Plan. Further
policies will be required to fully address the Plan as it applies to
1.2 Places to Grow Act and the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden
Horseshoe
The Places to Grow Act took effect
in June 2005; the Growth Plan for the GGH came into effect on
In January, 2006, Council commended the Province for providing a long term, comprehensive plan to guide Greater Golden Horseshoe municipalities in managing growth, but also expressed the view that the plan will only be viable with a significant and sustained Provincial commitment to infrastructure funding and financial policy reform. Council requested the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal to provide a long term, multi-year, sustainable provincial infrastructure investment strategy in support of implementation of the Growth Plan.
Additionally, among other comments, Council emphasized the need for municipal control regarding development phasing and determining locations for intensification. Through the Directed Growth Strategy and New Official Plan, Council has the opportunity to articulate control over these matters while addressing conformity with the Growth Plan.
1.3 Changes to the
Between 2004 and 2006, the
The changes to the
The
· conforms to provincial plans or does not conflict with them,
· has regard to matters of provincial interest,
· is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement, and
· incorporates policies dealing with the protection of employment areas.
The development of the Directed
Growth Strategy and New Official Plan will provide the Town with an opportunity
to further address implementation of the new tools available to address growth
issues in the
1.4 Revised Provincial Policy Statement
The PPS was revised in 2005, in part to ensure consistency with revisions
to the
2.0 Region of
The Region of York is responsible for establishing the overall scale and pattern of growth within the Region and allocating that growth to each local municipality. To accommodate growth, the Region also provides for large scale transportation and servicing infrastructure and a number of social services. Policies to guide the allocation of growth and the provision of services are established in the Regional Official Plan (ROP).
The Town is required to ensure that its Official Plan is consistent with the ROP. In doing this, the Town must determine how it will distribute new growth and the appropriate policies to direct and phase growth. As the ROP is revised to ensure conformity with Provincial legislation, the Town must in turn ensure that the policies of the Region are reflected in the Town’s Plan. The Region, as approval authority for the Town’s Plan, and Plan amendments, will ensure that the approvals it provides are consistent with the ROP.
Following adoption of a growth strategy and OPA No. 5 in 1993, the Town embarked on an active community planning program emphasizing intensification, mixed use and compact development, incorporating a high regard for environmental protection and community design. However, the Town has not completed a comprehensive review of its Official Plan, subsequent to the approval of the ROP in 1994. Consequently, there has not been a formal exercise to determine the degree of consistency between the Town Plan and the ROP. Additionally, the Town has not yet had the opportunity to directly incorporate provisions of the Region’s Centres and Corridors Strategy (ROPA 43) into the Town Plan. The completion of the Directed Growth Strategy and the adoption of a new Official Pan will provide the opportunity for both.
2.1 Region of
In response to the Places to Grow
Act and the Growth Plan, the Region is currently engaged in a growth management
review known as “
The Provincial Growth Plan has assigned additional growth to York Region in the period remaining to 2031. The Region, which has the authority to allocate the Growth Plan assignment, has completed preliminary population and employment forecasts for the Town (shown below); a presentation on these forecasts was provided to the Development Services Committee in May 2007.
Preliminary Regional Forecasts
for the Town of |
|||
|
2006 |
2031 |
Increase 2006-2031 |
Population |
273271 |
444058 |
170787 |
Households |
78007 |
146579 |
68572 |
Employment |
143600 |
255800 |
112200 |
The Region’s growth strategy and the revised ROP resulting from the growth management review will provide direction for the Town in regard to the development of the Town’s Directed Growth Strategy and New Official Plan. As the Town proceeds with its work, this can be used to monitor, assess and inform the Region’s activities, as well as to refine growth and related policies to also address Town interests.
3.0 Town of
Changes in
provincial and regional policy relating to growth will have a significant
effect on the relevance and adequacy of some of the current policies of the
Town’s Official Plan. Policy revision and the introduction of new policies to
ensure conformity with senior government policy is needed, and can be best
accommodated through a comprehensive review. Notwithstanding significant policy
updates by amendment, the Plan format and some of its policies reach back 30
years. A Plan review and update, in the form of a new Plan, is now appropriate.
The current
timeframe of the Official Plan, as amended, extends only to 2011. A much longer
timeframe to 2031 is established in the Provincial Growth Plan, requiring
policies that offer sustained guidance in regard to future growth, the delivery
of infrastructure and the environment. Given the age of some of the Plan’s
policies and the potential for significant amendment to achieve conformity with
the provincial and regional policy regimes, it would be prudent to proceed on
the basis of preparing a New Official Plan.
The Town of
The Directed Growth Strategy will
express the Town’s intentions regarding future population and employment growth
over the planning period to 2031. It will identify Town goals, objectives,
principles, expectations and requirements in regard to the amount, location and
pace of growth within the Town, the infrastructure and financial requirements
needed to support growth, and incorporate the recommendations from the Environmental
Policy Review and Consolidation, ensuring a context for growth that is
appropriate for
In defining
Arising from the Mayor’s inaugural speech in December 2006, Council and
senior staff have held ongoing discussions during 2007, relating to the
development of a framework for the Town corresponding to strategic areas of
focus identified by the Mayor and Council. It is recommended that within the context of Council’s strategic priorities, most
notably, those relating to growth management, transportation/transit and the
environment, that Council confirm the preparation of a Directed Growth Strategy
and New Official Plan as strategic priorities.
1.0 Directing Growth and Sustainable Development
Sustainability is
an increasingly central theme in government decision-making.
“Planning for sustainability promotes responsible development – not
anti-development. It requires a democratic process of planning to achieve the
greatest common good for all segments of our population, protect the health of
the environment, and assure future generations of the resources they will need
to survive and progress.” (American Planning Association, 2000).
·
protection of natural
features, green spaces and built heritage;
·
a wide range of housing types
to meet diverse lifestyle and life-stage needs;
·
compact communities
exhibiting high quality urban form and pedestrian orientation;
·
a wide range of publicly
accessible parks, recreational opportunities, community facilities and cultural
venues;
·
mixed land use and
live-work opportunities;
·
development at
transit-supportive densities; and,
·
strong emphasis on the
public realm, urban design and sense of place.
Other Town initiatives,
distinct from development, address sustainability through the provision of
services. Some examples include waste diversion, district energy, transportation
demand management and the promotion of ‘e-government’.
Council recently
authorised the preparation of a Community Sustainability Plan (Green Print). Under
the CAO’s office, this initiative provides the opportunity to direct how
sustainability will be addressed in
2.0 Work
Program for the Directed Growth Strategy Leading to a New Official Plan
The work program for the Directed Growth Strategy and New Official Plan is proposed to proceed in four phases (Figure 1). The immediate focus is on the completion of work to develop and approve the DGS by June 2009. Some of this work will also contribute to the preparation of a new Official Plan, which will be completed following the DGS.
There remains a relatively short period of 18 months to complete the necessary work leading to approval of a DGS by June 2009. A significant commitment by Council to expediting essential decisions must be made if this timeline is to be met.
A number of studies are required as part of the work program to complete the DGS and the new Official Plan; these are identified in the work program described below. A number of these studies involve analysis and confirmation of forecast growth and are proceeding. Direction to retain consultants in accordance with the Town’s Purchasing Bylaw as soon as possible is essential, to be able to incorporate their work into the refinement and analysis of growth options.
Phase 1 Growth Forecasts
Analysis (underway, target completion Q1 2008)
Phase 1 of the work program is underway. Analysis will continue throughout the DGS project, but the bulk of the first phase should be completed by Q1 2008. Work includes
assembling the necessary data and information to evaluate the Region’s preliminary population, employment and housing stock growth forecasts, and addressing, as appropriate, any variation from these forecasts that Council should consider. It will also include the extensive work of preparing databases to support other studies related to growth. Some of the components of this work include:
· Housing Stock Analysis,
· Residential and Employment Intensification,
· Growth Forecasts Analysis and Options Development, and
· Land Requirements.
A consultant should be retained now
to advise staff and Council regarding analysis of the Region’s preliminary
growth forecasts, determining potential variations in the forecasts, to further
define and develop the base growth options, and to advise on and support
options evaluation, all leading to the identification of a preferred growth
option by Council, targeted for Q4, 2008. The appointment of Hemson Consulting
Limited as the preferred supplier to support this technical analysis, is
recommended. Hemson is currently engaged in the Housing Stock Analysis and
Development Charges Review and has extensive experience with growth forecasting
in
Phase 2 Growth Evaluation/Policy
Studies and Communications Program (partially underway, target completion
2008 +)
Phase 2 of the work program will include the completion of studies to address the potential characteristics and requirements of planning for forecast growth and to begin to identify possible policies that will guide growth and be incorporated into aq new Official Plan. Phase 2 will also involve designing an extensive communications and consultation program with stakeholders and the public to provide and solicit information relating to planning for growth. Some of the components contributing to this phase include:
·
Environmental
Policy Review and Consolidation (underway),
·
Highway
7 Corridor Strategy (underway),
· Economic Competitiveness Strategy (underway),
· Markham Transportation Strategic Plan (underway),
·
Agricultural
Analysis (funding approved),
·
Consultation/Communication
Program (2008 funding request),
·
Built Form for Intensification Guidelines(2008 funding request),
·
Sustainable Development Guidelines and Standards(2008 funding request),
·
Employment
Lands Strategy Review (2008 funding request),
· Servicing Strategy (2008 funding request),
· Stormwater Management Strategy (2008 funding request),
·
·
Airport
Land Use Constraints Study (future funding request).
Subject to the 2008 budget submissions being approved, consultants will be retained to undertake the studies identified above. Studies not yet funded will be included in future budget requests. The studies will be phased to contribute first to development of the DGS and later to the new Official Plan.
Phase 3 Growth Options
Evaluation (Q1 - Q3 2008)
Concurrent with the growth evaluation studies, Phase 3 will refine and evaluate options for growth, based on the 2031 population and employment allocations developed by the Region. The options will address the provisions of the Growth Plan, including minimum density requirements and the percentage assignment of residential growth within the built boundary. The options can be used to define and assess different approaches to directing growth and the requirements that these approaches will dictate. The options evaluation is targeted for completion by Q3 2008. Based on the evaluation of the options, preferences for directing growth can be confirmed, leading to the identification of a preferred option to be incorporated into the Directed Growth Strategy.
Based on requirements of the
Provincial Growth Plan and the preliminary Regional forecasts for the Town Of
Base Option
This is the Region’s proposed 40% residential intensification option providing for a minimum of 40% of new housing to be located within the built boundary between 2015 and 2031 (in addition to intensification before 2015).
Base Option 2:
60% residential intensification
This option would increase the residential intensification within the built boundary to 60% between 2015 and 2031, (in addition to intensification before 2015); this variation should be sufficient to evaluate differences from the 40% option.
If analysis of the Town’s residential capacity, and the base options, suggests additional intensification potential, this can be evaluated against housing demand forecasts and appropriate adjustments made, and reported. These base options will also be set to assess other variables, such as density of development, employment mix and land requirements.
At this time, Staff is not proposing to develop an intensification option providing for more than 60% of new housing to be located within the built boundary between 2015 and 2031 (in addition to intensification occurring before 2015). Such an option could be considered if it is demonstrated that a proportion of high density units, significantly greater than 60%, can be accommodated within the built boundary, and that a housing mix incorporating a very high proportion of high density housing types represents good planning and will be viable in the Town’s housing market. These circumstances will be explored through the proposed analyses.
Phase 4 Prepare and Approve Directed
Growth Strategy (Q3 2008-Q2 2009)
Phase 4 will involve describing the preferred strategy for directing growth in a document that will also begin to articulate the policy, infrastructure and financial requirements to implement the strategy. It is intended that this document will be submitted to Council for approval before June 2009, to serve as a response to the Region and Province on the Growth Plan, and as the basis for policies to be incorporated into the New Official Plan. Through the various studies focused on infrastructure, and the fiscal impact or other financial studies, infrastructure and financial strategies will need to be identified to support the preferred growth strategy.
New Official Plan
The development and approval by Council of the Directed Growth Strategy will contribute to the preparation of a new Official Plan. The new Plan will incorporate policies required to ensure conformity with provincial legislation and plans and facilitate updating or replacing planning policies that may no longer be current. This will be a significant multi-year project on its own, requiring distinct work and consultation programs, and future budget approval.
The work program outlined above does not address the need to revise Secondary Plans and Zoning Bylaws to ensure consistency with the New Official Plan. The requirement to update zoning is now established in the Planning Act through Bill 51. This necessary work will need to be planned for and completed once the New Official Plan is adopted.
Corporate Initiatives Linked to Development of the
Directed Growth Strategy
Other initiatives within the corporation intersect with the phased program for the Directed Growth Strategy and need to be coordinated to contribute to, or implement, the Strategy. The content and timing of these initiatives will continue to emerge as part of ongoing consultation with Town Departments. Some of these initiatives, presently underway, confirmed or contemplated, include:
· Corporate Strategic Plan update (underway),
·
Community Sustainability Plan (Green Print) (underway),
· Parks, Recreation, Library Master Plan Update (2008 funding request), and,
·
Fiscal Impact Analysis.
Relative to infrastructure requirements and opportunities, it will be important to also coordinate with Powerstream, the Markham District Energy Corporation and the Markham Energy Conservation Office in regard to planning energy services for future growth, and to monitor studies to determine servicing system capacities, such as those reviewing the areas of South Don Mills and Thornhill.
3.0 Staffing and Consultants
Work on the Directed Growth
Strategy and a New Official Plan will proceed under the direction of the
Director of
Consultants will be retained as needed, subject to budget approvals and in accordance with the Purchasing By-law. Arrangements for required funding have been included in the 2007 and 2008 capital budget submissions. Additional work requiring funding will be identified in future budgets. Direction to proceed with implementing arrangements, subject to necessary budget approvals, is included in the recommendations of this report.
It is anticipated that there will
be a significant commitment required from a number of Town Departments to
supporting the development of the Directed Growth Strategy through their own
initiatives within the target timeframe. As the work toward the Directed Growth
Strategy proceeds, it is possible that other Commissions may identify work required.
This can be reflected in revisions to the overall work program, and future
Business Unit Profiles and budget submissions.
4.0 Ongoing Communication and Direction
It is appropriate that the Development Services Committee should provide approvals and direction as the work on the Directed Growth Strategy progresses. Regular updates, and reports as needed, will be submitted to the Committee. The project will also rely upon coordination with related work of other staff in the Development Services Commission and several Departments of other Commissions. It is proposed that the Department Heads Forum should be used to coordinate interdepartmental consultation relating to the development of the Directed Growth Strategy.
FINANCIAL TEMPLATE:
The bulk of the multi-year funding
for the Directed Growth Strategy is recoverable through development charges.
Funding requirements are to be addressed through the Town’s Capital Budget
review process. Some funding approvals are in place and some were approved in
the 2007 Capital Budget. Several submissions are included in the 2008 Capital
Budget and are subject to approval by Council. Additional funding requests will
be submitted through future budgets. A listing of currently funded and proposed
studies relating to the DGS is included in Appendix A.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:
The Directed Growth Strategy and
New Official Plan will incorporate the review and development of policies
relating to the Greenbelt Plan and the natural environment, notably those
arising from the Environmental Policy Review and Consolidation. The review is
underway and will be coordinated with responsible public agencies addressing
mutual policy initiatives relating to matters such as watershed planning,
environmental protection and enhancement, and
ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:
In the development of new Official
Plan policy, the
ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:
The preparation of a Directed
Growth Strategy is consistent with Corporate goals relating to Managed Growth, Transportation,
Environmental Focus, Infrastructure Management, and
BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:
The preparation of a Directed Growth Strategy and New Official Plan was discussed with Department Heads and the CAO and Commissioners prior to submitting this report. The report was reviewed by the Town Treasurer.
RECOMMENDED BY:
|
|
|
Valerie Shuttleworth, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Director of |
|
Jim
Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Commissioner of Development Services |
Figure 1 Directed Growth Strategy
- Phased Work Program
Appendix A: Directed Growth
Strategy - Component Studies/Initiatives
Appendix A: Directed Growth Strategy – Component Studies/Initiatives
· Housing Stock Analysis (underway)
· Residential and Employment Intensification (underway)
·
Environmental
Policy Review and Consolidation (underway)
·
Highway
7 Corridor Strategy (underway)
·
Economic Competitiveness Strategy (underway)
·
Markham Transportation Strategic Plan (underway)
·
Agricultural
Analysis (funded)
·
Design
for Communication/Consultation Program and 2008 implementation
(2008 funding request)
·
Growth Forecasts Analysis and Options
Development (2008 funding request)
·
Employment
Lands Strategy Review (2008 funding request)
·
Built Form for Intensification Guidelines (2008
funding request)
·
Sustainable Development Guidelines and Standards
(2008 funding request)
·
Servicing Strategy (2008 funding request)
·
Stormwater Management Strategy (2008 funding
request)
·
·
Airport
Land Use Constraints Study (future funding request)
*****
Related Planning Studies
·
Langstaff
Master Plan (underway)
·
Yonge
Street Corridor Study (underway)
*****
Other Corporate Initiatives Linked to Development of the
Directed Growth Strategy
·
Corporate Strategic Plan update (underway)
·
Community Sustainability Plan (Green Print)
(underway)
· Parks, Recreation, Library Master Plan Update (2008 funding request)
·
Fiscal Impact Analysis
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510 Growth Management 05-06\Reports\DSCNov62007DGSNOP-3.doc