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 June 15, 2017

 Cindy Tan

 Manager

 Ontario Growth Secretariat

 Ministry of Municipal Affairs

 777 Bay Street

 Toronto, ON

 M5G 2E5

 Development and Infrastructure

 The City of Cambridge

 50 Dickson Street, P.O. Box 669

 Cambridge ON N1 R 5W8

 Tel: (519) 621-0740ext 4571

 Fax: (519)621 6184

 TTY: 519-623-6691

 brunnshawe@cambridge.ca

 Re: EBR No. 013-0426 (Transitional Matters - Growth Plans Regulation 311/06)

 Dear Ms. Tan

 City of Cambridge staff has reviewed the transition regulation 311/06 on the Growth

 Plan Transitional Provisions posted on the Environmental Registry website (EBR

 Registry Number: 013-0426).

 Firstly, the City of Cambridge has been working diligently, with the assistance of an

 outside planning consultant, to prepare a comprehensive Growth and Intensification

 Study. This project will identify how and where Cambridge can achieve the

 intensification targets in the current Growth Plan and develop a series of secondary

 plans to implement the Growth Plan directions in our three downtown areas and along

 major transit routes. While this work is nearing completion it will not be dealt with by

 Cambridge Council before July 1, 2017, when the Growth Plan 2017 takes effect.

 Secondly, after extensive commercial analysis the City of Cambridge adopted an

 amendment to its Official Plan (OPA No. 17) to revise the commercial policies, including facilitating additional high density mixed-use developments on major transit corridors.

 This adopted official plan amendment is still awaiting approval by the Region of

 Waterloo, which is not expected prior to July 1, 2017.

 Based upon our understanding of Regulation 311/06, projects such as the ones

 described above would be subject to the 2017 Growth Plan, if final decisions are not

 issued by July 1, 2017. I would respectfully request that amendments to a local official

 plan, which have been adopted but not yet approved, should still be subject to the

 Growth Plan 2006 provisions. Adoption of an official plan amendment by a local council

 represents a "decision", even if further approval and possible modification is needed by the approval authority in a two tier municipality.

 In addition major studies, which involve a significant outlay of municipal financial, staff

 and consulting resources and public consultation, that are substantially complete,

 should be allowed to proceed based on the Growth Plan 2006. Otherwise a significant

 amount of additional work, resources and follow up public consultation will be necessary

 to ensure compliance with the Growth Plan 2017. This will result in substantial delays in completing this project, which is designed to achieve the Provincial growth management

 goals.

 I would be pleased to discuss this matter with you further, should you have any

 questions.

 Elaine Brunn Shaw MCIP, RPP

 City Planner

[Original Comment ID: 209705]