Council Orientation: Amendment No. 128 to the Durham Regional Official Plan (ROPA 128) December 1, 2010
Meeting Agenda ROPA 128 • Provide background regarding the Provincial Growth Plan and the Growing Durham Study • Provide an overview of ROPA 128 and the Provincial Decision and Non-decision • Identify issues of concern to Oshawa • Outline next steps • Question and Answer session
Provincial Growth Plan
Provincial Growth Plan ROPA 128 • June 2006: Provincial Places To Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe • Regional and local municipalities are to manage growth by: – Directing a portion of growth to built-up areas through intensification; and – Planning development in greenfield areas to achieve increased densities
Provincial Growth Plan ROPA 128 • Specific targets: – Region and its area municipalities to provide for 960,000 persons and 350,000 jobs by 2031 – Urban Growth Centres (e.g. Downtown Oshawa) to achieve a target of 200 people and jobs per hectare by 2031; – 40% of new residential development is to occur within built-up urban areas starting in 2015; and
ROPA 128 – Greenfield development is to achieve a target of 50 people and jobs per hectare. • Region and City must amend their Official Plans to implement the Growth Plan
ROPA 128
Growing Durham Study
Growing Durham Study ROPA 128 • In August 2007 Region initiated the Growing Durham Study to bring the Regional Official Plan into conformity with the Provincial Growth Plan • Urban Strategies Inc. and C.N. Watson and Associates were the Region’s consultants
Growing Durham Study ROPA 128 • Study looked at scenarios for Region to accommodate: – 960,000 people by 2031 – 350,000 jobs by 2031 • 3 scenarios identified and assessed: – Continuing a Dominant Western Anchor – Focusing on a Central Hub for Durham – Reinforcing Existing Communities
Growing Durham Study ROPA 128 • “Reinforcing Existing Communities” scenario selected • Key aspects of “reinforcing” scenario for Region: – Balanced future growth across the shoreline area municipalities – Measured future growth in northern municipalities – Hwy 407 flanked primarily by future Employment Areas from Pickering to Oshawa
Growing Durham Study ROPA 128 • Key aspects of “reinforcing” scenario for City: – Columbus Area considered as designated Greenfield lands – Future Employment Area expansion (2031) on both sides of Hwy 407 centered on Simcoe Street, and flanking Harmony Road south of Hwy 407 – Central focus on Downtown Oshawa Urban Growth Centre
Growing Durham Study ROPA 128 • The “reinforcing” scenario and policy directions involve fundamental changes to the way development and growth has occurred up to now, e.g.: – more intensive development and higher densities in greenfield areas – Increased infill development at higher densities – Greater emphasis on a balanced mix of uses to achieve “complete communities”
Growing Durham Study ROPA 128 • Comments were provided to the Region by Oshawa throughout the study • City Council supported the recommended “reinforcing” Growth Scenario and general policy directions • No fiscal impact analysis was undertaken as part of the Growing Durham Study
Adoption of ROPA 128
Adoption of ROPA 128 ROPA 128 • Regional Council supported the Growing Durham Study and it was converted to a ROPA in order to ensconce the principles of the study into the Regional OP • On June 3, 2009 ROPA 128 was adopted by Regional Council to implement the recommendations of the Growing Durham Study
Adoption of ROPA 128 ROPA 128 • Population & Employment Forecasts: – ROPA 128 proposes the following forecasts for Oshawa by 2031: • Population 197,005 • Households 82,590 • Employment 90,795 • City Council supported these forecasts
Adoption of ROPA 128 ROPA 128 • Intensification Allocations: – ROPA 128 proposes area specific intensification allocations – For Oshawa, 39% of all new residential units are to be developed within the built boundary annually from 2015 to 2031 • City Council supported this intensification allocation
Adoption of ROPA 128 ROPA 128 • Living Areas – ROPA 128 proposes to: • Redesignate lands from Employment Area to Living Area in northeast Oshawa (Kedron Planning Area) due to the northerly shift of the Highway 407 corridor; and • Expand the Urban Area boundary and approve a Living Area designation in the Columbus area. These lands were proposed to be designated as Living Area in the DROP since 1993 but deferred by the Province • City Council supported these changes
Adoption of ROPA 128 ROPA 128 Existing Durham Official Plan ROPA 128 Changes Adopted by Regional Council
Adoption of ROPA 128 ROPA 128 • Employment Areas: – ROPA 128 proposes to: • Expand the urban area boundary and add Employment Areas in northeast Oshawa (Kedron area) on both sides of Harmony Road North and on the east side of Ritson Road North • Expand the urban area boundary and add Employment Areas for most of the remaining lands north and south of Highway 407, east and west of Simcoe Street North • City Council supported these changes
Provincial Draft Decision on ROPA 128
Provincial Draft Decision ROPA 128 • On March 12, 2010 Province released its draft decision on ROPA 128 • In May 2010 City staff prepared a report on Province’s draft decision which recommended: – Supporting the Employment Area lands on both sides of Harmony Road North – Objecting to the inclusion of housing unit allocations by area municipality
ROPA 128 – Objecting to the inclusion of separate minimum density targets for Employment Areas and non- employment lands – Objecting to the prohibition of certain uses, such as offices and business parks, from Employment Areas – Introducing new policies for the Columbus area including buffering, restricting types of Employment uses permitted in the gateway area and phasing – New policies for the Columbus area including buffering, restricting types of Employment uses permitted in the gateway area and phasing
Provincial Draft Decision ROPA 128 • On June 25, 2010 City Council referred the report to back staff pending Provincial decision
Formal Provincial Decision on ROPA 128
Formal Provincial Decision ROPA 128 • On October 27, 2010 Province released its final decision on ROPA 128 • Province chose to: – Approve parts – Deny parts – Issue non-decision on parts (i.e., more consultation required)
Formal Provincial Decision ROPA 128 ROPA 128 as Adopted by Regional Council Provincial Decision/Non-decision
Formal Provincial Decision ROPA 128 • Key elements supported by the City that were delivered include: – recognition of key economic drivers such as UOIT/Durham College, and Highway 401 and 407 – Support for a target ratio of jobs to population of 50% – Permission to consider major retail uses along the north side of Taunton Road West between Goodman and Oshawa Creeks • However, City did not get everything Council supported
Formal Provincial Decision ROPA 128 • Accordingly, on November 16, 2010 staff appealed the Province’s decision and non- decision on ROPA 128 because: – Population & Employment Forecasts: • The Province withheld a decision with respect to the population and employment forecasts for Oshawa and those of Durham’s other lakeshore municipalities – Intensification Allocations: • The Province withheld a decision on the intensification allocations
Formal Provincial Decision ROPA 128 • Living Areas: – The Province withheld a decision on the Urban Area Boundary expansion and Living Area designation in the Columbus area
Formal Provincial Decision ROPA 128 • Employment Areas: – The Province: • Refused the Urban Area Boundary expansion and Employment Area designations in northeast Oshawa (Kedron area) • Withheld a decision with respect to Employment Area designations in the vicinity of Simcoe Street North, both north and south of Highway 407
Formal Provincial Decision ROPA 128 • The overall effect of the Provincial refusals and non-decision with respect to urban boundary expansions leaves the City with no approved urban boundary expansions and with a net loss of Employment land supply • The Province’s actions do not implement the Provincial Growth Plan, are not in the City’s best interests and do not represent good planning
Appeals to OMB Re: ROPA 128
Appeals to ROPA 128 ROPA 128 • City has appealed • Approximately 70 appeals to the OMB have been submitted by others • The Provincial decision is not final until the outstanding appeals are dealt with by the Ontario Municipal Board
City Official Plan ROPA 128 and
Appeals to OMB ROPA 128 • New Regional Urban Area Boundary expansions are important for future flexibility • Policies can be included in the Oshawa Official Plan to ensure a phased approach to the extension of the Urban Area Boundary (as part of the City’s own conformity exercise) • For instance, criteria can be implemented to ensure that development of lands within the Urban Area boundary is optimized prior to consideration of an expansion.
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