Effective January 19, 2012, the Ontario Government amended the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2006, to bring into effect a revised Amendment 1, which applies to the County of Simcoe and the Cities of Barrie and Orillia. The amendment is contained in Chapter 6 of the updated Growth Plan and was developed after extensive public consultation and participation with Simcoe-area municipalities and local developers involving the Provincial Development Facilitator.

Although policies related to growth forecasts and employment areas remain largely unchanged from the original Proposed Amendment, significant changes have been made providing greater flexibility for approval of developments in settlement areas. Most notably, the policies in Proposed Amendment 1 for land needs analysis and delineation of an interim settlement area boundary have been removed.  

Primary Settlement Areas, formerly urban nodes, have been expanded to now include Alcona. The policies in section 6 of Amendment 1 direct a significant portion of growth to Primary Settlement Areas in communities where development can most effectively be serviced.
 
The Amendment provides that development may be approved in settlement areas in excess of what is needed to accommodate the forecasts in Schedule 7, provided the development is on lands designated for urban uses as of January 19, 2012. In addition, greater flexibility has been provided to the County to re-designate additional agricultural or rural lands for urban uses in settlement areas, up to a total amount of land across the County equivalent to what is needed to accommodate 20,000 people. It should be noted that a sunset clause applies to the re-designated land provision which expires in five years (2017). In addition, the County and lower-tier municipalities are directed to establish and implement a phasing policy to ensure the orderly and timely progression of development on lands designated for urban uses.

The policies in Proposed Amendment 1 relating to employment lands remain unchanged however Amendment 1 now provides that Simcoe sub-area municipalities may request the Minister consider a review of location and boundaries, and the appropriate uses in a strategic settlement employment area or economic employment district.

To address the transition, Regulation 311/06 has been amended to provide that where a matter under the Planning Act or Condominium Act, 1998 is in-process and awaiting a decision as of January 19, 2012:
 

  • the Amendment applies to official plans, official plan amendments, zoning by-law amendments, applications for plans of subdivision, and applications for approval of, or exemption from approval of, a condominium.
     
  • the Amendment does not apply to minor planning matters such as site plan approval, minor variance, consent, or matters before the Ontario Municipal Board where the hearing is complete but no decision has been issued.

The Places to Grow Act, 2005 requires the official plan of a municipality be brought into conformity with a growth plan including any amendments. Accordingly, municipalities will have to initiate compliance amendments within the next three years or such date determined by the Minister.

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