Planning for Growth 101
By Jane Fogal
Why is now a critical time for determining the future of Halton Hills?
When people look at the subdivisions under construction today in Georgetown South few realize that this growth was approved by Town Council about 20 years ago. The type of housing and the layout of the streets were all approved when many of the new residents were teenagers.
Today the process for deciding where and how we will accommodate population growth to the year 2051 is nearing its conclusion. The fact that this is taking place during a pandemic has made it difficult to communicate the importance of the process to our residents. Likewise promoting their participation has been a challenge.
What is this process and why are we doing this now?
The Ford government was elected in 2018 and immediately reviewed all of the legislation that sets the rules for municipal planning for growth. Through a series of revisions to the Place to Grow Act and the Provincial Policy Statement, municipalities were assigned growth targets reaching out to the year 2051.
In the case of Halton Hills, our growth is driven by the forecasted growth assigned to Halton Region. The forecasted population must be divided up amongst the 4 local municipalities of Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills.
Whatever the population assignment is to each local municipality, each of them must then show how this new population will be housed. This is done by deciding what proportion of the growth will be housed within the existing urban area. If the population is not entirely accommodated within the existing urban area then they must show what land will be added to the urban area to house those people and the services needed for that population.
The assignment of growth to the 4 local municipalities will involve a negotiation amongst the locals to come to an agreement that would then be voted on at Regional Council.
In order to enter into that negotiation, the Town of Halton Hills must clarify what its position is and then make a case for support.
How is the Town of Halton Hills’ position created?
Local planners get together with the Regional planners to discuss what they believe will be in their municipality’s best interest. In order to do this, they must get an understanding of where their Town or City Councillors are supporting.
Prior to making a decision about what they think is the best growth plan for their community, Councillors must educate themselves on a wide variety of factors. They rely heavily on staff reports that are in turn based on analysis and background studies. But Councillors are also representing the public and must engage with the public to understand what their hopes are for the future of the town.
In normal times the Town would host workshops for the public to help the them understand the process and the options for accommodating growth. The last time the Town went through this process was 10 years ago and for that process the public filled the cafeteria at Christ the King Catholic School for workshops on growth. That process resulted in the Town accepting about 20,000 new residents and the opening up of the urban boundary to include the 1000 acres now known as Vision Georgetown. The timeframe for bringing those lands on-line was 2021 to 2031. The current planning phase begins in 2031 and was extended by the new Provincial government to 2051.
During the current planning phase the public has been invited to make submissions on-line to the Halton’s website www.halton.ca/ROPR and to make delegations to Regional Council. Public Information events were also hosted via Zoom that were mainly opportunities for planning staff to explain the options for accommodating growth. The public could ask questions and answer polling question. Discussion was at a minimum due to the constraints of on-line format.
What are the options for growth?
Five concepts were developed by Regional staff in order to give some context and understanding of the choices available to accommodate the growth. Although 5 concepts are presented, these are for discussion purposed. It is likely that the final growth plan will contain elements of several of the concepts.
The 5 growth concepts illustrate very different visions for the future. Concept 4 converts the most farmland to urban uses byopening up the urban boundary to the west and south of Georgetown as well as adding thousands of acres of employment land reaching northward from Steeles Avenue. Concept 4 converts 8,100 acres of farmland to urban uses.
Concept 3B is the firm urban boundary option and features accommodating all growth within the currently approved 2031. This option requires growth to be achieved through intensification. It should be noted that the municipalities have already identified areas that could be developed for intensification such as around the GO stations, along transportation corridors and in the downtown core.
The other concepts vary in the amount of land converted to urban uses and the amount of intensification required to house the new population.
Comparison of population increase and land conversion by Concept
How can I learn more about the growth options?
Visit www.halton.ca/ropr to find documents and analysis. The latest document is 600 pages and contains all of the background analysis including the background assumptions that feed into the land needs calculations. You can skip to the comparative analysis of the 5 growth concepts or delve into the details.
What you won’t find in the document is an analysis of livability or health implications. Likewise a hierarchy of factors in not included. In other words all of the factors are treated as having equal weight.
What are your opportunities to raise your concerns or express your vision?
The Town of Halton Hills is hosting a Public Information/ Engagement event on June 21st via Zoom. This is the public’s opportunity to make a public statement and to speak directly to Town Councillors. You may also ask questions at this event.
To participate in this event visit the Town’s website www.haltonhills.ca
The Region is also hosting a Public Information Centre on June 29th at 7pm. To join this meeting log onto www.halton.ca/ropr on the day of the event. Or by phone: call 1 855 703 8985 (toll free) Meeting ID is 970 655 2261 Passcode if required 858099
To request PIC materials or to submit questions in advance email ropr@halton.ca
The public is also encouraged to engage with their councillors. Contact information is available at www.haltonhills.ca In order to send an email comment or question to all councillors use this address councillors@haltonhills.ca
What is the timeline for decision making?
Although Halton Region passed a resolution at its February 17thmeeting asking the Province to give more time to allow for in-person public engagement, this request was turned down by Steve Clark the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Although the date for final submission of Halton’s updated Official Plan is July 1 2022, it appears that an interim plan is due to be submitted 180 days prior to this deadline.
The Town of Halton Hills will consider a staff report seeking Council’s endorsement of a growth concept or elements of a growth concept at the council meeting on Monday July 5th. Delegations are welcome at this meeting to speak on this topic. You must register in advance with the Town Clerk, Valerie Patryniak at valeriep@haltonhills.ca if you wish to voice your opinion concerning the growth. This meeting will also be live-streamed and recorded for viewing at a later date.
It is expected that a report will be coming to Regional Council on July 14th that will include the recommendations by each of the local councils. Should this be the case then delegations would be heard at this meeting. Once again, delegations are required to make a request by contacting the Regional Clerk Graham Milne at graham.milne@halton.ca
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