Official Plan Update

An Official Plan is a policy document that applies to all properties within the municipal boundary. It guides how land is used, and how and where growth and development will take place in our city.

The current Richmond Hill Official Plan provides:

• A vision for the future of the city
• An approach for where and how development will occur
• Direction for municipal servicing to meet the needs of our growing city
• Protection of natural areas and ecosystems
• Implementation tools

The Province requires that an Official Plan update be completed 10 years after the preparation of a new comprehensive Official Plan. This ensures that the updated plan implements any changes to provincial policies, conforms with policies in the York Region Official Plan, responds to current urban issues and conditions, and considers new opportunities for shaping the City.

Richmond Hill’s current Official Plan was adopted by Council in July 2010 in order to guide development to 2031. This review will provide a clear vision for planning and development in Richmond Hill to 2041.

In addition to Planning Act requirements, the update of the Official Plan will look to better support long-term sustainable city building, respond to climate change, and create a better balance of jobs and residents in the City.

The Official Plan update process is occurring concurrently with York Region's Municipal Comprehensive Review. As such, the update will also ensure that policies and mapping conform with those of the Regional Official Plan.

There are several City initiatives that will occur at the same time as the Official Plan update. These initiatives will develop tools that will be used to implement the policies of the Official Plan. There are also studies underway which will inform the Official Plan Update. Throughout this process, the existing approved Official Plan is in effect and guides decision making for the City.

The following is a list of City-led projects:

• Affordable Housing Strategy
• Community Energy and Emissions Plan
  
• Comprehensive Zoning By-law
• Richmond Hill Centre Secondary Plan
• Socio Economic Study
• Transportation Master Plan Update
• Urban Forest Management Plan
• Urban Master Environmental Services Plan
• Yonge and Bernard Key Development Area Secondary Plan

Presentations

• June 22, 2020 Virtual Open House presentation slides regarding proposed amendments to the Official Plan (OPA 18.1 Automotive Uses and OPA 18.2 Leslie Street Institutional Area)
• November 24, 2020 OPUC Meeting presentation slides (note: 10MB file size) regarding vision considerations and public engagement
• January 19, 2021 OPUC Meeting presentation slides regarding future readiness, vision, and urban structure
• February 18, 2021 Virtual Open House presentation slides

• SRPRS.19.053 Official Plan Update initiation report (item 13.3 at the November 20, 2019 Council meeting)
• SRPRS.19.181 Official Plan Update Committee Terms of Reference (item 11.19 at the December 4, 2019 Committee of the Whole meeting)
• SRPRS.20.003 York Region's Municipal Comprehensive Review (Part 1): Requests for Employment Area Conversions (item 13.9 at the February 26, 2020 Council meeting)
• SRPRS.20.004 York Region's Municipal Comprehensive Review (Part 2): Major Transit Station Areas, Settlement Area Expansion, and Agricultural System (item 13.10 at the February 26, 2020 Council meeting)
• SRPRS.20.097 Employment Land Conversions - OPA 18.1 Automotive Uses and OPA 18.2 Leslie Street Institutional Area (item 3.1 at the June 29, 2020 Special Council Public Meeting)
• SRPRS.20.126 Request for Approval - City-initiated Official Plan Amendment 18.2 Leslie Street Institutional Area (item 13.2 at the September 23, 2020 Council meeting)