Study Overview

The purpose of the Growth Plan Implementation Study was to undertake the preparation of a comprehensive study that will inform future decisions on amendments to the Regional Official Plan and implement the Provincial Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

Key Considerations to be addressed in the study include:

• allocating the Growth Plan population and employment forecasts to the eight area municipalities for the period to 2031, with an extended outlook  to 2056 to assist in long-range infrastructure planning;
• developing a strategy and policies to phase in and achieve an annual rate of residential intensification within built-up areas, of 40 percent by 2015;
• developing a plan to achieve a minimum gross density target of 200 residents and jobs combined, per hectare, by 2031 in the Urban Growth Centres of downtown Oshawa and Pickering;
• identifying other intensification areas and development of transit supportive density targets that contribute to achieving the built-up area target of 40%;
• planning for designated Greenfield areas to achieve a minimum density of 50 residents and jobs per hectare;
• assessing the need for new designated Greenfield areas (i.e. settlement area boundary expansions); and
• identifying and designating an adequate supply of employment lands to accommodate the Growth Plan forecasts and the key principles of the Regional Official Plan.