Update Announcement
This notice was initially posted on the old Environmental Registry (ebr.gov.on.ca). If you already submitted a comment there, we will consider it as part of this consultation. You don't need to submit it again here.
This consultation was open from:
December 19, 2017
to February 28, 2018
Decision summary
Municipalities subject to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe are required to use a standard approach to calculate the amount of land needed to accommodate population and employment growth.
Decision details
On July 1, 2017, the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017 (the Growth Plan) came into effect. To implement the Growth Plan, upper- and single-tier municipalities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe are required to calculate the amount of land they will need for development until the Growth Plan horizon (currently 2041) using a standard methodology for assessing land needs issued by the Minister. This methodology will help ensure municipalities are using land efficiently and in accordance with Growth Plan policy requirements and targets.
On December 19, 2017, the Minister issued the Proposed Methodology for Land Needs Assessment in the Greater Golden Horseshoe for consultation. Public consultation took place for 71 days, from December 19, 2017 to February 28, 2018 (Registry number 013-2016). The Province also held technical briefings and meetings with stakeholders during the consultation period. After considering submissions and comments received, the Minister is now formally issuing this final methodology in accordance with Growth Plan policy 5.2.2.1 c).
The final methodology will be used by municipalities to determine the amount of land needed to accommodate future growth. It informs decisions about whether to expand the boundary of urban areas (settlement area boundary expansion), or whether sufficient or surplus land has already been identified. The methodology also informs decisions about whether lands in employment areas can be converted to non-employment uses.
The results of the land needs assessment will then be used to inform the work of municipalities in applying the policies of the Growth Plan to update their official plans. This official plan update is known as the municipal comprehensive review process.
Effects of consultation
The purpose of the Environmental Registry posting and technical briefings and meetings with stakeholders was to present information on the proposed methodology for land needs assessment for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, as well as provide opportunity for participants to offer feedback.
Feedback was generally supportive of the need for a standard approach to land needs assessment. Much of the feedback was technical in nature and requested further clarity on various aspects of the methodology, including:
- The need for further guidance on the municipal comprehensive review process, the application of Growth Plan targets, as well as the housing and employment strategies required by the Growth Plan.
- Concern about including lands within undelineated built-up areas as part of the designated greenfield area.
- Some concern about a policy-led approach based on the intensification and density targets and resulting implications for the mix of housing being planned.
- The need for clarity on how employment area land need is determined through setting a density target for employment areas.
- Emphasis on ensuring meaningful public consultation, and having transparency in the preparation, documentation and decision-making process on the land needs assessment following its completion.
Minor revisions have been made to the methodology to clarify these issues in response to feedback.
In addition to these changes, the Province has modified the Growth Plan transition regulation (Ontario Regulation 311/06) to specify that planning matters relating to some settlement areas in the inner ring (as specified in the regulation) would be exempt from the Growth Plan density target for designated greenfield areas, which would mean that they would not need to be treated as designated greenfield areas for the purposes of land needs assessment (Registry number 013-2488). The Province has also released draft guidance on the municipal comprehensive review process and the application of the intensification and density targets on Ontario’s Environmental Registry (Registry number 013-2259).
Supporting materials
Related linksClick to Expand Accordion
- Land Needs Assessment Methodology for the Greater Golden Horseshoe
- Summary of the Land Needs Assessment Methodology for the Greater Golden Horsesh…
- Draft Guidance to Support Implementation of the Growth Plan for the Greater Gol…
- Draft Guidance to Support Implementation of the Growth Plan for the Greater Gol…
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
777 Bay Street
c/o Business Management Division, 17th floor
Toronto,
ON
M5G 2E5
Canada
Connect with us
Contact
Aidan Grove-White
777 Bay Street
c/o Business Management Division, 17th floor
Toronto ,
ON
M5G 1Z3
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
Description of policy
To implement the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017 (the Growth Plan
), upper- and single-tier municipalities subject to the Growth Plan are required to use a standard provincially-developed process, known as a land needs assessment, to calculate the amount of land they will need for development until 2041. This process will help ensure municipalities are using land efficiently and in accordance with provincial forecasts and targets.
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs is now seeking feedback on a draft approach. Once submissions and comments are received and considered, the province will establish a final land needs assessment methodology.
The final methodology will be used by municipalities to determine the amount of land needed to accommodate future growth. It will inform decisions about whether to expand the boundary of urban areas (settlement area boundary expansion), or whether sufficient or excess land has already been identified.
The results of that land needs assessment will then be used to inform the work of municipalities in applying the policies of the Growth Plan to update their own official plans. This is known as the municipal comprehensive review process.
Purpose of policy
The purpose of this Policy Proposal Notice is to inform the public of Ontario that the Province is:
- Proposing a consistent methodology for upper- and single-tier municipalities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe to use in assessing their future land needs.
- Seeking comments on the proposed methodology.
Other information
More information about the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe
Questions about the land needs assessment methodology consultation process, collection of information and access to the consultation document may be directed to: placestogrow@ontario.ca.
Other public consultation opportunities
Feedback can be provided in any of these ways:
- online form
- email at placestogrow@ontario.ca,
- Environmental Registry on this web page, or
- by mail to:
Ontario Growth Secretariat
Ministry of Municipal Affairs
1 Dundas Street West, 25th Floor
Toronto, ON M5G 1Z3
The consultation closes on February 28, 2018.
Notice regarding collection of information
Any collection of personal information will be in accordance with subsection 39(2) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. It will be collected under the authority of the Places to Grow Act, 2005 for the purpose of obtaining input on the Proposed Methodology for Land Needs Assessment for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
If you have questions about the collection, use, and disclosure of this information please contact:
Ministry of Municipal Affairs
Senior Information and Privacy Advisor
777 Bay Street, 17th Floor
Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2E5
416-585-7094
Organizations and businesses:
Comments or submissions made on behalf of an organization or business may be shared or disclosed. By submitted comments you are deemed to consent to the sharing of information contained in the comments and your business contact information. Business contact information is the name, title and contact information of anyone submitting comments in a business, professional or official capacity.
Individuals:
Personal contact information will only be used to contact you and will not be shared. Please be aware that any comments provided may be shared or disclosed once personal information is removed. Personal information includes your name, home address and personal e-mail address.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
777 Bay Street
c/o Business Management Division, 17th floor
Toronto ,
ON
M5G 1Z3
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from December 19, 2017
to February 28, 2018
Connect with us
Contact
Aidan Grove-White
777 Bay Street
c/o Business Management Division, 17th floor
Toronto ,
ON
M5G 1Z3
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
8By email
0By mail
36