Notice of Adoption - OPA 18.8

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 Oak Ridges Local Centre as part of the City Plan Official Plan Update process. This OPA aims to address 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). This OPA 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.

 1.2           Location

The Amendment applies to the Oak Ridges Local Centre in the Richmond Hill Official Plan and portions of the Neighbourhood situated north of Blackforest Drive/Worthington Avenue along Yonge Street and south of Bloomington 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:

• Policies of the Provincial Policy Statement (2020), which encourage compact, mixed-use development to support liveable and resilient communities while considering housing needs (1.3.1(d));
  • In accordance with the PPS, OPA 18.8 directs higher density development within the Local Centre in the form of low- and mid-rise development and it requires development to provide non-residential space for properties that front Yonge Street and the existing amount of non-residential GFA be retained. The non-residential uses may be in the form of retail, commercial, office, and community uses.
  • Through the policies in this amendment, this Local Centre is anticipated to accommodate up to 290 residents and jobs per hectare overall. This translates into approximately 13,000 residents and 4,700 jobs, based on assumptions used at the time of preparing this amendment. Through on-going monitoring of the Official Plan, this approximation of the ultimate buildout of the Local Centre may change.

• Policies of A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020), which support the achievement of complete communities by achieving a minimum density target of 160 residents and jobs per hectare in areas served by bus rapid transit (BRT);
  • In accordance with the Growth Plan 2020, OPA 18.8 plans for a complete community within the Oak Ridges 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. Although the Local Centre is not within a Protected Major Transit Station Area, it is located along a future BRT route, and as such proposes a more compact urban form of development than the surrounding lower density neighbourhood.
• Policies of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (ORMCP) (2017), which focus and contain urban growth within the settlement areas through a mix of uses, transit-supportive densities, and minimizing impacts to ecological functions and hydrological features of the area;
  • In accordance with the ORMCP, OPA 18.8 directs higher density development within the Local Centre and requires a mix of uses with higher densities aligning with future BRT stations to support transit. Density allocations take into consideration environmental constraints in this area including the presence of the Moraine, key natural heritage features, key hydrologic features and functions, and hazard lands.
• Policies of the York Region Official Plan (2022), which identify the Oak Ridges Local Centre and portions of lands presently designated Neighbourhood along Yonge Street north of Blackforest Drive/Worthington Avenue as being located along a Regional Corridor. The ROP directs that these areas function as urban main streets that have a compact, mixed use, well designed, pedestrian friendly and transit supportive built form and allow for active transportation. Furthermore, the Regional Official Plan directs that the scale and form of development address the local context, features and functions of the Oak Ridges Moraine.
  • In accordance with the York Region Official Plan 2022, OPA 18.8 permits non-residential uses throughout the Local Centre and requires development to provide non-residential space for properties that front Yonge Street and that the existing amount of non-residential GFA be retained. The Local Centre will also permit low- and mid-rise development to meet the minimum density target, while addressing the local context, features and functions of the Oak Ridges Moraine.

• 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:
  • Build on the 2010 Official Plan policies for the Oak Ridges.
  • Expand the existing ORLC boundary to support objectives for the Regional Corridor and for building complete communities.
  • Support the mobility hierarchy through modern main street design and compact built-form.
  • Create a gateway at Yonge Street and Bloomington Road.
  • Continue to plan with an ‘environment first’ approach to planning for the Local Centre.
  • Support broader neighbourhoods by providing local goods and services, as well as community amenities.
  • Support tourists/visitors who visit the area to appreciate lakes and forests, through the provision of goods and services related to outdoor recreation.
  • Enhance connections to nearby lakes and forests.

• 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.
• The proposed 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 - Business Community Summary Report - July 2021
  • Phase 2: What We Heard - Centre-Specific Workshops Engagement Summary Report - July 2021
  • Phase 2: What We Heard - Key Directions Engagement Summary Report - November 2021
  • 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.