Part One – The Preamble

1.1          Purpose

The purpose of this Amendment to the Richmond Hill Official Plan (OPA) is to provide more detailed planning policy and schedules related to the Newkirk Local Centre as part of the City Plan Official Plan Update process. This OPA addresses matters such as long term planning vision for the area, permitted land use, design elements, public realm, mix of land use, density of development, and adjustments to boundaries in an effort to ensure conformity with the Regional Official Plan (2022). The amendment implements City Plan Key Directions endorsed by Council in February 2022, and supports the City’s Investment Attraction Strategy, Affordable Housing Strategy, Parks Plan, and Transportation Master Plan. The OPA also intends to support economic development and job creation in the City. Furthermore, this OPA proposes to incorporate direction from the York Region Official Plan (2022) regarding Protected Major Transit Station Areas within the Newkirk Local Centre.

1.2          Location

The Amendment applies to lands presently designated Newkirk Local Development Area, and lands south of Centre Street that are presently designated Employment Area and Employment Corridor on Schedule A2 of the Official Plan. These lands generally centre around the intersection of Major Mackenzie Drive East and Newkirk Road, as shown below.

1.3          Basis

The proposed modifications to the Official Plan are intended to implement the following Provincial, Regional and City policies and direction:

• Provisions of the Planning Act (1990), which authorize municipalities to identify and delineate the boundary of protected major transit station areas (PMTSAs), and to identify land uses, as well as the minimum and/or maximum density and/or heights of buildings or structures on lands within PMTSAs (s.16(16) and 16(21));
  • This amendment identifies the Newkirk Local Centre as an intensification area covered by PMTSA #50 Richmond Hill GO Station in the York Region Official Plan (2022). Accordingly, the proposed amendment includes a minimum prescribed density of 150 residents and jobs per hectare, and provides permitted use and built form policies to achieve and exceed this minimum density target over the long term.
  • Through the implementation of the policies in this amendment, the Newkirk Local Centre is anticipated to accommodate up to 350 residents and jobs per hectare for the Local Centre overall. This translates into approximately 7,500 residents and 3,600 jobs, based on assumptions used at the time of preparing this amendment. Through ongoing monitoring of the Official Plan, this approximation of the ultimate buildout of the Local Centre may change.

• Policies of the Provincial Policy Statement (2020), which encourage compact, mixed-use development to support livable and resilient communities while considering housing needs (1.3.1(d));
  • In accordance with the PPS, OPA 18.7 directs higher density development within the Local Centre in the form of low-, mid-, and high-rise development. Residential development is permitted throughout this Local Centre; and to support a mix of land uses, this amendment requires development within the Local Centre to provide non-residential space for properties that front arterial and collector streets. The non-residential use may be in the form of retail, commercial, office/major office, and community uses.

• Policies of A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020), which support the achievement of complete communities and prioritize for major transit station areas (MTSAs) on priority transit corridors (2.2.1(4)(a) and 2.2.4(1));
  • In accordance with the Growth Plan 2020, OPA 18.7 plans for a complete community within the Newkirk Local Centre by integrating a mix of uses in a compact form that provides for amenities and services within a 15- minute walk or 5-minute bike ride. The Local Centre surrounds a major transit station with higher intensification planned than the surrounding lower density neighbourhood.
• Policies of the York Region Official Plan (2022), which identify the Newkirk Local Centre area as part of Protected Major Transit Station Area #50 with a minimum density target of 150 people and jobs per hectare. To support this density, the York Region Official Plan directs that this area support a mix of land uses. Furthermore, the York Region Official Plan directs that the Official Plan provide direction regarding built form and scale of development to support and implement the Regional intensification hierarchy, to provide a residents to jobs ratio target to ensure live work opportunities and an appropriate balance of jobs to population, and to provide affordable housing targets including 35% of new units being affordable within PMTSAs.
  • The proposed OPA designates the majority of PMTSA #50 as Local Centre. The remaining lands of the PMTSA will continue to be designated Neighbourhood, Local Mixed Use Corridor, and Natural Core. Additional policy direction regarding areas outside of the Local Centre designation may be provided via subsequent amendments to this Official Plan.
  • The proposed OPA provides a target ratio of 7 residents to 3 jobs, which is intended to be achieved over the long term through the implementation of policies provided in the Official Plan.
  • Presently, the Official Plan provides a minimum affordable housing target of 25% of new housing in the City overall. Through a subsequent OPA related to the City’s Official Plan Update process, the City will update its affordable housing targets and definitions to further implement the York Region Official Plan direction for affordable housing as noted above.

• Conformity with the 2022 York Region Official Plan shall be achieved through a combination of: (1) existing City-wide Official Plan policies; (2) area-specific policies contained in this Official Plan Amendment; and (3) future amendments to the Official Plan to satisfy requirements of the 2022 York Region Official Plan.

• Directions provided in the Council endorsed Key Directions Report related to this area and theme include:
  • Clearly express required public realm and facilities (parks, streets, community centers, library, fire halls, tree canopy, schools, etc.) that is commensurate with build-out of the broader area – to create amenity-rich communities.
  • Appropriately designate intensification areas and implement Regional MTSA minimum density direction.
  • Ensure that development provides social, physical and visual connections to adjacent areas to create a cohesive sense of place.
  • Support density with public realm elements that are commensurate with the proposed level of build-out density, and ensure that density is in keeping with directions set out in other City master plans (e.g., TMP, UMESP, Parks, Recreation, Fire, etc.).
  • Continue to consult on and provide more detailed guidance for Centres, starting with clear vision statements for each area.
  • Convert employment lands south of Centre Street East to Local Centre designation.
  • Elevate the area within the intensification hierarchy by redesignating the lands from Newkirk Local Development Area to Local Centre;
  • Support development of a new community with a mix of uses and encourage structured commuter parking to allow for intensification opportunities;
  • Update land use compatibility policies to ensure that existing and adjacent uses may continue.
  • Provide new, and maintain existing, affordable housing.
  • Enhance and provide connections to open space.
• The proposed amendment is also informed by the Planning for Change report - July 2021, which provides guidance on updating the Official Plan in a manner that is responsive to anticipated change in the future, and will likely impact city building over the long run.
• This amendment is also informed by consultation the City has undertaken to date in relation to the Official Plan Update process. This consultation is documented in the following “What We Heard” reports:
  • Phase 1: “What We Heard” Phase 1 Summary Report
  • Phase 2: What We Heard - Centre-Specific Workshops Engagement Summary Report - July 2021
  • Phase 2: What We Heard - Key Directions Engagement Summary
  • Phase 3 Batch 2: What We Heard – Employment and Intensification Areas Engagement Summary Report – February 2023

• Additionally, the proposed amendment is informed by the City’s Investment Attraction Strategy, Affordable Housing Strategy, 2022 Parks Plan and emerging Transportation Master Plan.