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Envision Durham

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Municipal Comprehensive Review

About the project

Durham Region is growing. Today, the region is home to 682,500 people. By the year 2041, our population is expected to grow to 1.2 million people, with over 430,000 jobs in the region. Our vision is to create healthy and complete, sustainable communities within the region, shaping Durham into a great place to live, work, play, grow and invest.

The Durham Regional Official Plan guides decisions on long-term growth and development–providing policies to ensure an improved quality of life–and securing the health, safety, convenience and well-being of present and future residents of the region.

In 2019, the Region is launching Envision Durham – the Municipal Comprehensive Review of our Official Plan. This review will look at:

- How and where our cities and towns may grow.

- How to use and protect our land and resources.

- What housing types and job opportunities are needed for our residents.

- How people and goods will move across our region and beyond.

We’re planning for an attractive place to live, work, play, grow and invest–and we’re asking for your help. Watch the video below to learn more and join the conversation to have your say.

Join the conversation

It’s time to have your say about our future!

Envision Durham is an opportunity to plan for a progressive and forward-looking land use planning vision for the region to 2041.

We are currently in the Discuss Stage of our project and need your input. Please review and provide comments on various theme-based Discussion Papers below.

Current Engagement Opportunities

Discussion papers (Stage 2-Discuss)

The Growth Management - Urban System Discussion Paper was released on June 4, 2019. Comments are requested by September 2, 2019. For supplemental information on the 2018 Employment Areas Inventory by area municipality, visit the Employment, business and land inventory section of our Planning for Growth page.

Discussion papers contain questions, with a supplemental workbook (Appendix A), to help facilitate discussion and input.

Responses can be submitted via email to EnvisionDurham@durham.ca or be 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.

Additional Discussion Papers will be released on the following themes:

Agriculture and Rural System - released March 5, 2019. Comments requested by June 3, 2019.
Climate Change and Sustainability - released May 7, 2019. Comments requested by August 5, 2019.
Growth Management, including but not limited to reports on:
- The Urban System - released June 4, 2019. Comments requested by September 2, 2019. Supplemental information on the 2018 Employment Lands Inventory is also available on our Planning for Growth page, under Employment, business and land inventory.
- Land Needs Assessment (LNA) and related technical studies.
- Additional feasibility studies, if required based on the results of the LNA.
Environment and Greenlands System.
Transportation System.
Housing.

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.

Public opinion survey (Stage 1-Discover) - survey is now closed.

The Envision Durham public opinion survey is now closed.

Thank you to everyone who participated. Survey results will be reported on, and made available in this section, shortly.

To be notified of these results, as well as other project related engagement opportunities, please subscribe to this page by clicking on the "Receive email updates" button below.

Thank you.

Additional Resources

Project timeline

2018–Background Work
2019–Initiating Engagement
- Discover Stage – Release of Public Opinion Survey
- Discuss Stage – Release Discussion Papers
2020–Direct Stage
- Release Policy Direction Papers
2021–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

Document library

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

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 2041.

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.