GROWTH MANAGEMENT

Public Engagement - Growth Management

On February 16, 2010, a public information meeting was held to get public input into Markham's strategy to manage population and employment growth over the next 20 years. More than 1,000 people attended the February 16 meeting to discuss the future of Markham and how we should grow.

Development of the Growth Management alternative involves ongoing communication and consultation with Markham residents and businesses, as well as public agencies and other levels of government.

The following is a summary of public engagement activities that occured between February 2009 and April 2009 associated with the development of Markham's Growth Alternative. The engagement program combined both the Growth Alternative and Transportation/Transit initiatives of Buildings Markham's Future Together. The program included:

• A launch event
• Five Community Meetings
• Five meetings with stakeholders
• Online consultation (GMS Workbook)

Background - Province & Region of York

The Province has passed legislation and approved plans that together form a comprehensive strategy for accommodating population and employment growth in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH). This provincial strategy is intended to support the creation of strong communities, and enhance quality of life, environmental protection and economic growth in Ontario.

Three Plans defining this strategy are:

• Greenbelt Plan (2005)
  Outlines areas within the Region of York where environmental protection is predominant and urban development is not allowed to occur.
• Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2006) Growth Plan
  Outlines requirements for accommodating growth to 2031, focusing on the planning and development of complete communities.
• Regional Transportation Plan (The Big Move)
  Outlines a 25 year transportation plan to support the land use and growth proposed by the Growth Plan.

The Growth Plan emphasizes accommodating growth by directing a portion of new development to existing built-up areas. The Growth Plan requires a minimum of 40% of all new residential development across each Region in the GGH take place within built up areas, and be achieved largely through intensification. It also outlines certain density targets for population and employment growth in built-up and new urban areas. All municipalities within the Greater Golden Horseshoe including the Region of York and Markham must amend their Official Plans to address the requirements of the provincial plans.

Region of York

In response to the provincial plans, the Region of York prepared a new Region Official Plan (ROP) which was approved by the Province in September 2010 and is presently under appeal at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). The ROP allocates population and employment growth to the Region's nine local municipalities, including Markham.

In September 2010, the Region adopted Amendment No. 3 to the ROP to incorporate additional lands in northwest Markham into the Urban Area to accommodate some of the growth to 2031 assigned to Markham. This Amendment is also under appeal at the OMB.