Proposed Revocation of the Central Pickering Development Plan

ERO number
019-6174
Notice type
Policy
Posted by
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Notice stage
Decision Updated
Decision posted
Comment period
October 25, 2022 - November 24, 2022 (30 days) Closed
Last updated

Update Announcement

This notice was originally posted on October 25, 2022 and was reposted on November 4, 2022 to update the notice due to proposed amendments to the Greenbelt Plan.

This consultation was open from:
October 25, 2022
to November 24, 2022

Decision summary

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is revoking the Central Pickering Development Plan, pursuant to subsection 4(8) of the Ontario Planning and Development Act, 1994.

Decision details

The government is taking bold action to address Ontario’s housing crisis by building 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years. As part of this plan, the government proposed revocation of the Central Pickering Development Plan to support municipal partners in planning for responsible growth and help build housing faster and in a targeted manner.

The consultation ran from October 25, 2022, through November 24, 2022, and sought feedback on the proposal to revoke the Central Pickering Development Plan that affects an area of land totaling approximately 12,355 acres (5,000-hectare) area generally bounded by the CPR Belleville Line in the south, Sideline 16/Pickering-Ajax boundary in the east, Highway 7 in the north and the York-Durham Town Line in the West, within the City of Pickering. The government received 89 submissions on this proposal.

Indigenous communities were engaged through a separate and parallel process.  

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing reviewed and considered key substantive feedback received during the comment period.

To accommodate the expected growth and to support the building of more homes, and streamline approvals, the government is revoking the Central Pickering Development Plan.

The revocation of the Central Pickering Development Plan affects an area of land established as a Development Planning Area by an Order made under section 2(1) of the Ontario Planning and Development Act, 1994 (the “Act”) dated April 17, 2003, as amended on March 25, 2004.

The Minister is also making an order revoking the Central Pickering Development Planning Area, under subsection 2(1) of the Act.

The Central Pickering Development Plan is comprised of the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve that is primarily comprised of agricultural lands, and the Seaton lands, which are comprised of employment and residential development parcels interwoven with an extensive natural heritage system. The official plan for the City of Pickering reflects these designations.

Comments received

Through the registry

82

By email

7

By mail

0
View comments submitted through the registry

Effects of consultation

Members of the public, municipalities, and stakeholders including from the environmental, agricultural and development sectors submitted feedback. Indigenous communities were engaged through a separate and parallel process.

A total of 82 comments were received through the ERO. 7 comments were received by email during the consultation period. Many submissions also addressed other Ministry initiatives pertaining to Bill 23.

Summary of Comments

Overall, feedback on revocation of the Central Pickering Development Plan was largely negative to mixed, with some support for revoking the Plan.

Environment

  • A key theme across many submissions was concern regarding anticipated negative environmental impacts of this proposal resulting in lessening of environmental protections.

Agriculture

  • Agricultural stakeholders did not support the revocation of the Central Pickering Development Plan.
  • Many concerns were raised about the loss of farmland and some comments requested that the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve be permanently protected, some comments also noted how the loss of agricultural land could exacerbate rising food insecurity.

Process

  • Directly impacted municipalities (Pickering and Durham) didn’t object to the revocation of the Central Pickering Development Plan in principle but requested more time for transition to allow for review of all agreements respecting fiscal and legal matters or for pending servicing agreements to be completed.
  • Some comments expressed concerns with the length of the consultation.

Housing/Affordability

  • Many submissions didn’t concur that revocation of the Plan would result in more housing, and some noted the higher density development already being built as a result of the Plan.

Many comments also did not want new land opened up for development but rather supported infill, intensification or retrofitting of the suburbs to accommodate new development.

Infrastructure

  • Some submissions raised concerns regarding infrastructure being adequate to support new development.

Effects of the Consultation on this Decision 

 No changes were made to the proposal as a result of public consultation. 

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Original proposal

ERO number
019-6174
Notice type
Policy
Posted by
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Proposal posted

Comment period

October 25, 2022 - November 24, 2022 (30 days)

Proposal details

Everyone in Ontario should be able to find a home that is right for them. But too many people are struggling with the rising cost of living and with finding housing that meets their family’s needs.

Ontario’s housing supply crisis is a problem which has been decades in the making. It will take both short-term strategies and long-term commitment from all levels of government, the private sector, and not-for-profits to drive change. Each entity will have to do their part to be part of the solution to this crisis.

Ontario needs more housing, and we need it now. That’s why the Ontario government is taking bold and transformative action to get 1.5 million homes built over the next 10 years.

To support More Homes Built Faster: Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plan: 2022-2023, the government introduced the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, which, if passed, would ensure that cities, towns, and rural communities grow with a mix of ownership and rental housing types that meet the needs of all Ontarians. These visionary changes will place Ontario at the forefront of housing policy in North America.

These changes will, if passed, provide a solid foundation to address Ontario’s housing supply crisis over the long term and will be supplemented by continued action in the future.

Proposal details

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is seeking feedback on a proposal to revoke the Central Pickering Development Plan (the “Plan”), to support the government’s commitment to streamline, reduce, and eliminate burdens and to potentially increase housing supply.

Under subsection 4(8) of the Planning and Development Act, 1994, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing may, with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, by order, revoke the plan.

Context

The Central Pickering Development Plan took effect in 2006 and was subsequently amended in 2012. The Plan was prepared under the provisions of the Ontario Planning and Development Act, 1994 (the “Act”).

The Plan affects an area of land established as a Development Planning Area by an Order made under section 2(1) of the Act dated March 25, 2004.

The Central Pickering Development Plan is comprised of the Duffins-Rouge Agricultural Preserve and employment and residential development parcels interwoven with an extensive natural heritage system.

Current Implementation Status

The Plan has been successful in achieving its objective in setting out and implementing the framework for the establishment of a sustainable urban community in Seaton integrated with an agricultural community in the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve and a Natural Heritage System.

The City of Pickering official plan reflects the policies and mapping of the Plan, and the Region of Durham’s official plan defers to the Plan. In many areas, construction and build-out of the Plan is underway. As set out in the Central Pickering Development Plan, the intention is that the more detailed planning approvals (e.g., subdivision approvals, etc.) would be implemented by the City.

Geographic Area of the Central Pickering Development Plan

The Plan affects an approximate 5,000-hectare (12,355 acre) area generally bounded by the CPR Belleville Line in the south, Sideline 16/Pickering-Ajax boundary in the east, Highway 7 in the north and the York-Durham Town Line in the West. It is located entirely within the City of Pickering and the Region of Durham.(Link to maps we can include/or attach?)

Central Pickering Development Plan’s Goals and Land Use Designations

The Plan established a vision for Central Pickering: of a sustainable urban community in Seaton, integrated with a thriving agricultural community in the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve and an extensive Natural Heritage System.

The Plan has eight goals:

  1. The protection, maintenance and enhancement of natural features, functions and systems intended to sustain a viable and permanent natural eco-system.
  2. The integration of cultural heritage into the community fabric.
  3. Ensuring that the Pickering portion of the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve is permanently protected for agricultural and conservation uses.
  4. The provision of an appropriate distribution of social, institutional, open space and recreational facilities.
  5. The provision of a transportation system that provides choices and a public transit supportive design.
  6. Servicing that minimizes impacts on the environment and maximizes efficiency and use of existing infrastructure and minimizes lifecycle costs.
  7. The provision of high-quality employment opportunities and sufficient employment lands to generate approximately one job for every two residents.
  8. The provision of a range of housing types and densities that meets the needs of a diverse population.

The Plan establishes land use designations including: hamlet, residential cluster, low, medium and high density areas, employment lands, local and community nodes, mixed corridors and open space; as well as the natural heritage system, transportation network and servicing system, and set out a population of 61,000 residents and 30,500 jobs by 2031 and up to 70,000 residents and 35,000 jobs beyond 2031 through intensification.

Analysis of Regulatory Impact:

  • The anticipated regulatory impacts of the proposal are positive. The proposed revocation of this 2006 Plan is intended to reduce and eliminate burdens for lands subject to this Plan. Eliminating the Plan will reduce regulatory burdens by removing an additional layer of policy direction for this geography. While there are no new administrative costs associated with this proposal, the City of Pickering and Region of Durham may experience minimal administrative burden resulting from the need to update their official plans to remove references to the Plan that would no longer exist and, if required would need to fill any policy gaps. The policy direction has been already implemented through the City of Pickering Official Plan.

Comment

Commenting is now closed.

This consultation was open from October 25, 2022
to November 24, 2022

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Contact

MSOC.Admin@ontario.ca