Municipal Comprehensive Review
About the project
Durham Region is growing. Today, the region is home to 699,460 people. By the year 2051, our population is expected to grow to 1.3 million people, with over 460,000 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 launched Envision Durham – the Municipal Comprehensive Review of our Official Plan. This review looks 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 2051.
We are currently in the Direct Stage of our project.
During this stage, you will have the opportunity to provide feedback on proposed policy directions, including some initial findings of the Growth Management Study component of Envision Durham below.
Current Engagement Opportunities
| Land Needs Assessment (LNA) - Technical Report(s) available for comment |
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The following technical reports are being released as a component of the Growth Management Study (Stage 3-Direct) to inform the Land Needs Assessment:
The complete Land Needs Assessment, with all supporting technical reports and staff recommendations, will be brought forward to the Regional Planning & Economic Development Committee this fall (targeting October). Those wishing to provide input may do so by submitting comments via email to EnvisionDurham@durham.ca or send 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. |
| Provincial Agricultural System (Stage 3-Direct) - review underway |
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The Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) Agricultural System was introduced by the Province in 2018. It is comprised of a group of inter-connected elements that collectively create a viable, thriving agricultural sector. The Agricultural System includes prime agricultural lands, specialty crop areas, rural lands, and the agri-food network of businesses and services that work together to enable a thriving agri-food sector. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) conducted a Land Evaluation Area Review (LEAR) and based on those findings has mapped out prime agricultural areas and candidate areas to be included as part of the Agricultural System. The Province’s Agricultural System mapping is being reviewed and refined through the Agricultural Systems Review process, to confirm the extent and location of the Durham component of the GGH Agricultural System. This process is required to ensure that the new Regional Official Plan will conform with approved, applicable Provincial policy. For more information, please visit the OMAFRA website. Who is involved and how you can stay engaged: The project is being led by a multi-disciplinary team with the support of Planscape, a planning consulting firm with extensive experience in agricultural and rural planning. Area municipalities, conservation authorities and advisory committees are being consulted throughout the process. As Envision Durham progresses, there will be additional opportunities to provide input, including open houses and statutory public meetings to gather input on a new Regional Official Plan. Questions or comments can be submitted to EnvisionDurham@durham.ca. |
| Proposed Policy Directions (Stage 3-Direct) - submission window now closed |
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On March 2, 2021, the Planning & Economic Development Committee received the Proposed Policy Directions (Report #2021-P-7). A video presenting the Proposed Policy Directions to the Committee can be viewed below, and is accessible here. 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. 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. The online survey and submission window are now closed (as of June 30, 2021). Thank you to everyone who provided input on the Proposed Policy Directions during the 120-day commenting period. The Proposed Policy Directions will be reviewed based on feedback received through the consultation process and will form the basis for the Region’s new Official Plan’s draft policies. Updates and next steps will continue to be posted to the project web page. |
| Growth Management Study (Stage 3-Direct) - Settlement Area Boundary Expansion requests (submission window now closed) |
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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 took place from March 2 to May 31, 2021, to 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: The submission window is now closed (as of May 31, 2021). Thank you to everyone who submitted a new and/or amended Settlement Area boundary expansion request for consideration. A status update report will be released and posted to this section shortly. |
| Major Transit Station Areas (MTSA) Proposed Policy Directions (Stage 3-Direct) - submission window now closed |
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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. |
| Growth Management Study (Stage 3-Direct) - Employment Area conversion requests (submission window now closed) |
| Protecting and maintaining an adequate supply of employment land is important to the economic vitality of the Region. Designated Employment Areas play a specific and unique role in attracting and accommodating businesses and creating local job opportunities.
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. |
| Discussion papers (Stage 2-Discuss) - all six papers are now available |
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Theme-based discussion papers released during the Discuss Stage included:
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. |
| Public opinion survey (Stage 1-Discover) - survey summary now available |
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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. |
Additional Resources
| Project timeline |
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| Document library |
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| 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 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:
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. |
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