Work on the Official Plan Review was initiated in March 2006 and its terms of reference were updated as soon as Council adopted the Town's Strategic Plan - Destiny Milton 2, in June of 2006. All municipalities are required under provincial law to undertake an Official Plan Review at least every five years, and the process must include extensive public and stakeholder consultation.
At the same time that the Town embarked upon its Official Plan Review process, Halton Region began their growth exercise known as Durable Halton (now referred to as Sustainable Halton), which was initiated in response to the Provincial Growth Plan requirement that both Regional and Local municipalities must plan for growth to the year 2031 based on the development of sustainable, complete communities. The Sustainable Halton process incorporates Halton Region's growth and land use plan for 2021 to 2031, and also includes the Region's Five-Year Official Plan Review Update.
For multiple reasons, including the Region advancing the Sustainable Halton Plan, the Town of Milton Official Plan Review Process could not meet the original timeframe developed by staff. On May 19, 2009, Planning Staff, reporting on the progress of the Sustainable Halton exercise, recommended via staff report PD-052-09 that Council formally request from the Ministers of Energy and Infrastructure and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, a one year extension to the June 16, 2009 deadline as required by the Places to Grow Act for completion of the Town of Milton five-year Official Plan Review and Growth Plan conformity exercise. This request was unanimously supported by Milton Council and is in keeping with similar requests from other municipalities within Halton Region and the Greater Toronto Area.
In September 2009, staff provided update Report PD-081-09 and released a draft Official Plan document prepared by Meridian Planning Consultants Inc. This document which was at a preliminary draft stage incorporated new policies and revisions to existing ones, in response to Provincial and Regional policy directions. It was the intention of staff to release this document for the purposes of engaging the community in meaningful discussion with respect to the future policy directions of the municipality.
On December 16, 2009, Halton Regional Council adopted ROPA 38 (Regional Official Plan Amendment No. 38), an amendment to incorporate the results of Sustainable Halton, Official Plan Review Directions and Other Matters. This amendment provides the local municipalities with specific directions on where growth will occur in the Region (including expansions to the Town's current urban boundary) and how it will be achieved to the year 2031.
In order to meet the June 16, 2010 Provincial deadline relating to Growth Plan conformity, staff advanced components of the Official Plan Review, relating to the conformity exercise, through a proposed amendment to the current Official Plan. The following meetings were held to meet this deadline.
| Date | Meeting | Notices |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2010 | Informal Open House to showcase Growth Conformity components (including draft mapping) | Notice |
| April 19, 2010 | Special Council Meeting under Section 26 of the Planning Act, to hear public input on the revised Official Plan Review topics for the June 16, 2010 Growth Plan conformity exercise. | Notice |
| April 28, 2010 | Statutory Public Open House relating to the proposed Official Plan Amendment. (draft amendment released April 8, 2010) | Notice |
| May 10, 2010 | Statutory Public Meeting (to be held at a Special Council meeting) to discuss the proposed Official Plan Amendment. | Notice |
| June 14, 2010 | Special Council meeting for Council to consider adoption of the Official Plan Amendment relating to Growth Plan Conformity. | Notice |
The proposed conformity amendment (Official Plan Amendment No. 31) was brought forward via Staff Report PD-042-10 and adopted by Council, with revisions, at the Special Council Meeting of June 14, 2010. Further details relating to the adoption of OPA 31 and copies of the updated amendment (dated June 14, 2010) are available below.
Town staff will continue to review the remainder of the Official Plan policies and work towards the completion of a new Official Plan document. A work plan for the completion of the review will be posted at a later date.
The Official Plan is a general land use guide which is intended to provide Council with a basis for making decisions on development applications, changes in land use, and community improvements. It also sets out a long-term vision for growth and development in a municipality. The Official Plan Review will be guided by, and will implement where appropriate, the Destiny Milton 2 goals and directions.
The Official Plan Review will examine both urban and rural topics. Some of the key topics and policies to be reviewed include:
Report PD-022-06 was brought forward to Council for endorsement on March 20, 2006. It contains more detailed information on the topics and policies to be reviewed as part of the Official Plan Review process.
Unlike many urban centres, the Town of Milton encompasses 380 square kilometers (147 square miles) of diverse terrain. The Rural System includes Escarpment Protection and Escarpment Rural Areas, Rural and Agricultural areas, Hamlet populations and Mineral Resource Extraction Areas. An extensive Greenlands System surrounds and is networked into the existing Urban Area and the Urban Expansion Area. The Greenlands System includes the habitat of endangered and threatened species; woodlands and significant wildlife and fish habitats, as well as natural rivers and waterways. All land uses must be taken into account in the Official Plan. For details, please refer to the Official Plan Map Schedule A Land Use Plan.
The Town hosted its first Open House in late June 2006 to kick-start the review process, identify the issues/topics that will be considered as part of the review, and obtain public opinion and feedback on areas of importance to be addressed in the Plan. Watch the Town website (this page and the home page) for details on this project and future public meetings.
Public input into this study is very important to the Town. Therefore we are asking that if you would like to provide any comments or information, or ask any questions with respect to the Official Plan Review study process, please submit your comments using the contact information at the bottom of this page.
Conformity Exercise - Official Plan Amendment No. 31
At a Special Council Meeting on June 14, 2010, Town Council passed By-law No. 069-2010, which adopted the proposed conformity amendment to the Town's Official Plan (Official Plan Amendment No. 31). It should be noted that Section 5.3.3.10 was further amended at the Special Council Meeting by Verbal Resolution #630-10.
The amendment, which is included as part of By-law No. 069-2010 can also be downloaded in parts as provided below. Further, for the convenience of the reader, the effect of OPA 31, has also been shown in a consolidated "tracked change" version of the Town's Official Plan (Consolidated August 2008) document.
OPA 31 - Text (including By-law 069-2010)
OPA 31 - Consolidated "Tracked Change" Version
Official Plan Amendment (OPA) No. 31 requires the approval of the Regional Municipality of Halton (the approval authority). The amendment along with supporting documentation has been forwarded to the Regional Municipality of Halton as required by the Planning Act, for its consideration and approval. Any person or public body interested in obtaining a copy of the notice of the decision of the approval authority must make a written request to the Regional Clerk. Details relating to the adoption of OPA 31 and where to direct the written request to are contained in the Notice of Adoption.
Background Report May 3, 2007
Open House June 29, 2006
For more information on this topic, please use our Feedback form to submit comments or inquiries to: 'planning'
Phone: 905-878-7252 ext 2398
Fax: 905 876-5024