Access Richmond Hill
The Access Richmond Hill Contact Centre provides assistance for general inquiries, responds to questions or concerns regarding programs and services as well as accepts in person payments.
Contact Us
905-771-8800
Hours of Service:
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Report Feedback
Report a problem with a service, e.g. missed garbage collection, overnight parking, potholes, street lights, etc.
Official Plan Update
The City of Richmond Hill is updating the current Official Plan to guide land use and development to 2041. This update will continue to help transform our suburban communities into a more vibrant, complete community that serves the needs of all residents, businesses and visitors in Richmond Hill.
Latest Project Updates (August 2021)
Three new reports have been released:
- Phase 2: What We Heard – Business Community Summary Report
- Phase 2: What We Heard – Centre-Specific Workshops Engagement Summary Report
- Planning for Change report
These reports are also available under the "Phase 2" dropdown menu below.
The City is also working on a Key Directions Report, which will provide a framework for updating the Official Plan for 2041. This report will identify areas of the Official Plan that require change, and identify direction for that change. The City will be looking for feedback on the emerging key directions, and there will be more opportunities to participate in this process in Fall 2021. Check back soon for more details!
Tell us your favourite places in Richmond Hill
When updating the Official Plan, we want to understand which places and spaces the community enjoys today. We’re asking residents, workers, and visitors to drop a virtual pin on the 'My Favourite Places' interactive map and tell us your favourite places in the city throughout the duration of the Official Plan Update process. Your comments will help shape our communities and inform our future direction.
The application will work best using Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari browsers.
The Official Plan Update project
| What is an Official Plan? |
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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:
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| Why the Official Plan is being updated |
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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. |
| Other City initiatives related to the Official Plan Update |
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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:
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| Staff Reports |
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Project Phases
| Preliminary Official Plan Amendments |
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Two proposed amendments to the Official Plan related to uses in Employment Lands were initiated by the City. These amendments aimed to coordinate with the work being undertaken by York Region with respect to their Municipal Comprehensive Review, to respond to Council direction, and to respond to site-specific concerns. The amendments proposed were:
OPA 18.2 was adopted by Council on September 23, 2020, and was approved by York Region and came into effect on December 25, 2020. The changes proposed as part of OPA 18.1 (automotive uses) will be considered as part of the overall Official Plan Update, and are no longer proceeding ahead of the overall Official Plan Update. Meetings and Engagement Events
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| Phase 1 – Define Vision and Urban Structure |
This phase focuses on the big picture thinking and generating ideas to inform a vision for the City in 2041. This phase also focuses on gathering feedback on the urban structure of the City.
Objectives:
Meetings and Engagement Events
What We HeardFollowing the engagement that the City has conducted to the end of March 2021, LURA Consulting has prepared a "What We Heard" report. This report provides a summary of consultation the City has undertaken and the responses that have been received so far. This input will inform Phase 2 of the Official Plan Update process. |
| Phase 2 – Key Directions Report |
During this phase, the City will gather feedback on key policy directions related to: height and density of buildings, intensification of development in transit supported areas, opportunities to increase employment and economic prosperity, climate change mitigation and adaptation, technical matters, and implementation tools.
Objectives:
Meetings and Engagement Events
What We HeardFollowing the engagement that the City conducted to the end of May 2021, LURA Consulting has prepared two "What We Heard" reports. The first report provides a summary of the consultation the City has undertaken with the business community, and the second report provides a summary of consultation that the City has undertaken on six Centres in Richmond Hill. This input will inform the development of the Key Directions report as part of Phase 2 of the Official Plan Update process.
Planning for ChangeCity Plan 2041's visionary urbanist David Dixon and Stantec's Urban Places have prepared a report titled "Planning for Change", which will serve as a "playbook" to guide the Official Plan Update and its implementation. The "playbook" intends to inform the Official Plan Update, provide guidance to Council and Planning Staff to successfully implement the Official Plan, and adds additional perspective in terms of a path to take for planning complete communities.
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| Phase 3 – Policy Development and Approval |
During this phase, the policies and mapping of the Official Plan will be presented to the community for feedback.
Objectives:
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Additional ways to participate
- Attend future consultation events
- Provide your input through future online surveys
- Subscribe to this page for email updates (see below)
- Submit your comments to OPUpdate@richmondhill.ca or call us at 905-771-8910