Envision Durham

On March 2, 2021, the Planning & Economic Development Committee received the Proposed Policy Directions (Report #2021-P-7). The Proposed Policy Directions present potential additions and changes to land use planning policies, and public input is being requested. The proposed directions are not intended to be exhaustive but introduce certain directions where further input is being sought before draft policies are introduced within a proposed new Regional Official Plan. For additional details, please review the full report here.

Comments on the Proposed Policy Directions are being requested by June 30, 2021 (a 120-day commenting period).

The Proposed Policy Directions were developed and informed based on best practice reviews, research, public engagement and feedback received during Stages 1 (“Discover”) and 2 (“Discuss”) of the Envision Durham process. They are also intended to respond to submissions received through Stage 2, a summary of which can be viewed here.

To solicit feedback on the Proposed Policy Directions, an online survey was developed to help facilitate input. Each proposed policy direction has been highlighted by report section, with a corresponding “poll” survey, and specific comments can be provided directly into the survey for each proposed direction. For additional details, please visit the survey here.

Comments may also be submitted via email to EnvisionDurham@durham.ca or sent to the attention of: Envision Durham, c/o The Regional Municipality of Durham, Planning and Economic Development Department, 605 Rossland Road East, PO Box 623, Whitby, Ontario, L1N 6A3.

As a key component of Envision Durham, a Growth Management Study (GMS) is being completed in two phases. The first phase of the GMS focuses on the completion of a Land Needs Assessment (LNA). The LNA is a comprehensive review and calculation of the Region’s land base, including existing urban areas, to determine how the Growth Plan population and employment forecasts can be accommodated and how much, if any, additional urban land is required. The second phase of the GMS, if required, will focus on determining the most appropriate location for Urban Boundary expansions.

Any required Settlement Area boundary expansion will be considered through the GMS (Phase 2), after the completion of the LNA. The LNA, which determines the amount of urban land required to accommodate the 2051 growth forecasts, is currently underway.

To inform this work, a 90-day submission window for new and/or amended requests for Settlement Area boundary expansions will allow proponents the opportunity to respond to or address the criteria identified within Settlement Area Boundary Expansion section and Appendix C: Settlement Area Boundary Expansion – Evaluation Criteria of the Proposed Policy Directions report released March 2, 2021.

Submissions:

New and/or amended requests for Settlement Area boundary expansions are now being accepted (during a 90-day submission window). The final date to submit a Settlement Area boundary expansion request for consideration through Envision Durham will be May 31, 2021.

When making a submission, stakeholders should:

• Include any supporting documentation, having regard for the criteria outlined in the Settlement Area Boundary Expansion section and Appendix C: Settlement Area Boundary Expansion – Evaluation Criteria of the Proposed Policy Directions report, including clear mapping of the subject property and a description of the proposed land use and built form that is to be considered, including unit count by dwelling type and non-residential floor space, if possible.
• Direct the request in an electronic format to EnvisionDurham@durham.ca.
• Opt-in to the email notification list at the bottom of this web page, if you have not already done so.

On December 1, 2020, the Planning & Economic Development Committee received the Major Transit Station Areas (MTSA) Proposed Policy Directions (Report #2020-P-27). The MTSA Proposed Policy Directions provide an overview of the proposed MTSAs, summarizes best practices, trends and guidelines, revisits and refines certain delineations, and presents a set of draft policies for review and comment. For additional details, please review the full report here.

The submission window is now closed (as of March 1, 2021). Thank you to everyone who submitted comments on the MTSA Proposed Policy Directions during the 90-day commenting period.

Following a review of the feedback received on the proposed policy directions and draft delineations for existing and future MTSAs, a standalone Regional Official Plan Amendment will be formally released for public and agency review and comment later in 2021. 

One component of Envision Durham’s Growth Management Study is to understand the Region’s ability to accommodate the Growth Plan’s employment forecast of 460,000 jobs by 2051 and to determine where and how much Employment Area lands may potentially be re-designated to permit non-employment uses (e.g. residential).

On June 24, 2020, Regional Council endorsed the Proposed Employment Area Conversion Criteria and Submission Review Process (Report #2020-P-11) which outlines an evaluation criteria and formal process for considering requests for Employment Area conversion through Envision Durham.

Please note that in addition to adopting the recommendations of the report, Regional Council amended the recommendations to add "(C) That staff be directed to research and report back to Council on a specific mixed use land use designation." A copy of this Regional Council Correspondence is available here. This direction does not impact the evaluation criteria or formal process and deadline for considering Employment Area conversion requests.

Submissions:

The submission window is now closed (as of September 23, 2020). Thank you to everyone who submitted an Employment Area conversion request for consideration.

For a status update and next steps in the evaluation of requests for Employment Area conversion through Envision Durham, please refer to Report #2020-INFO-94.

Theme-based discussion papers released during the Discuss Stage included:

• Agriculture and Rural System - released March 5, 2019.
• Climate Change and Sustainability - released May 7, 2019.
• The Urban System - released June 4, 2019. Supplemental information on the 2018 Employment Lands Inventory is also available on our Planning for Growth page, under Employment, business and land inventory.
  • Additional Growth Management Study reports, such as the Land Needs Assessment (LNA) and related technical studies, as well as additional feasibility studies (if required based on the results of the LNA) will be released during the Direct Stage.
• Environment and Greenlands System - released September 3, 2019. Click the following link to access the covering Commissioner's Report #2019-P-36.
• Transportation System - released October 1, 2019.
• Housing Policy Planning - released December 3, 2019.

Each discussion paper contained questions, with a supplemental workbook (Appendix A), to help facilitate discussion and input.

Responses were submitted via email to EnvisionDurham@durham.ca or sent to the attention of: Envision Durham, c/o The Regional Municipality of Durham, Planning and Economic Development Department, 605 Rossland Road East, PO Box 623, Whitby, Ontario, L1N 6A3.

Paper copies and accessible formats are available upon request by contacting EnvisionDurham@durham.ca. Reference copies are also available for viewing at local library branches.

The Envision Durham public opinion survey is now closed.

The Public Opinion Survey Summary, which includes an overview of the related activities undertaken during the launch of Envision Durham, was released on September 3, 2019.

Thank you to everyone who participated.

• 2018–Background Work
• 2019–Initiating Engagement
  • Discover Stage – Public engagement launch and release of Public Opinion Survey
  • Discuss Stage – Release of theme-based Discussion Papers
• 2020/2021–Direct Stage
  • Initiate release of Growth Management Study consultants' reports
  • Release Policy Directions Report
• 2021/2022–Drafting the Plan
  • Statutory Public Meetings and Open Houses
  • Presenting a draft Plan to Regional Council for adoption
• 2022–Finalizing the Plan
• Submitting a final Plan to the Ministry for approval
• New Official Plan

• Authorization to proceed with Envision Durham - Report #2018-COW-93 (May 2, 2018)
• Public engagement launch - Report #2019-P-4 (February 5, 2019)
• Agriculture and Rural System Discussion Paper - Report #2019-P-12 (March 5, 2019)
• Award of Growth Management Study consulting services (RFP-1087-2018) - Report #2019-P-19 (April 2, 2019)
• Climate Change and Sustainability Discussion Paper - Report #2019-P-26 (May 7, 2019)
• Growth Management - Urban System Discussion Paper  - Report #2019-P-31 (June 4, 2019)
• Engagement and Outreach - Public Opinion Survey Summary - Report #2019-P-35 (September 3, 2019)
• Environment and Greenlands System Discussion Paper - Report #2019-P-36 (September 3, 2019)
• Transportation System Discussion Paper - Report #2019-P-41 (October 1, 2019)
• Advancing Rapid Transit Implementation and Transit Oriented Development in Durham Region - Report #2019-COW-26 (November 13, 2019)
• Housing Policy Planning Discussion Paper - Report #2019-P-47 (December 3, 2019)
• Provincially Significant Employment Zone (PSEZ) Mapping in Durham - Report #2020-INFO-3 (January 10, 2020)
• Proposed Employment Area Conversion Criteria and Submission Review Process - Report #2020-P-11 (June 2, 2020); and Regional Council Correspondence amending the Recommendations (June 24, 2020)
• Durham Region’s response to Proposed Amendment 1 to A Place to Grow: A Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and Proposed Land Needs Assessment Methodology - Report #2020-P-14 (July 29, 2020)
• Dorsay Development Corporation’s request for a Minister’s Zoning Order for Lands in Northeast Pickering and the Region’s Municipal Comprehensive Review - Report #2020-P-15 (July 29, 2020)
• Amendment 1 to A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and Land Needs Assessment Methodology - Report #2020-INFO-83 (September 4, 2020)
• Update on Employment Area Conversion Submission and Review Process - Report #2020-INFO-94 (October 16, 2020)
• Framework for a New Regional Official Plan - Report #2020-P-24 (November 3, 2020)
• Major Transit Station Areas - Proposed Policy Directions - Report #2020-P-27 (December 1, 2020)
• Proposed Policy Directions - Report #2021-P-7 (March 2, 2021), including Growth Opportunities and Challenges Report, prepared by Urban Strategies Inc. and Watson & Associates Ltd. for the Region’s Growth Management Study (Attachment #2), and Discussion Paper Submissions - Summary Tables (online compendium)

What is “Envision Durham”?

“Envision Durham” is the Municipal Comprehensive Review of the Durham Regional Official Plan.

Envision Durham is an opportunity to plan for change, by replacing the current Regional Official Plan and establishing a progressive and forward-looking planning vision for the region to 2051.

What is a Municipal Comprehensive Review?

A Municipal Comprehensive Review refers to an official plan review by the Region, or an official plan amendment which is led by the Region, working with the area municipalities.

In Durham, a “Municipal Comprehensive Review” also refers to a Municipal Comprehensive Review as defined in the Growth Plan, i.e. a new official plan, or an official plan amendment, initiated by the Region under section 26 of the Planning Act that comprehensively applies the policies and schedules of the Growth Plan.  

What is the Regional Official Plan?

The Durham Regional Official Plan (ROP) guides decisions on how and where our cities and towns grow, and how best to protect and enhance the region's rural and natural environments.

As Council’s core planning document, guiding Regional decision-making on long-term growth and development, the ROP provides policies to ensure an improved quality of life. 

Why are we reviewing the Regional Official Plan?

Under the Planning Act, we are required to review the existing Durham Regional Official Plan (ROP) every five years. Since the approval of the last ROP update (January 2013), the Province has completed several significant Provincial policy initiatives, including the coordinated review and update to Ontario’s:

• Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017 (Growth Plan);
• Greenbelt Plan, 2017;
• Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, 2017 (ORMCP).

The Planning Act requires the Region to complete a Provincial Plan conformity exercise to amend the ROP to conform with Provincial Plans and Policy Statements. 

This Municipal Comprehensive Review will form a Provincial Plan conformity exercise and five-year review of the ROP, satisfying these Provincial requirements.