Notice of Adoption - OPA 18.4

NOTICE OF THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NO. 18.4 TO THE

RICHMOND HILL OFFICIAL PLAN

PURSUANT TO THE PLANNING ACT

TAKE NOTICE THAT the Council of The Corporation of the City of Richmond Hill adopted Amendment No. 18.4 to the Richmond Hill Official Plan on the 6th day of July, 2022 through the enactment of By-law 82-22 and in accordance with Sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act, as amended.

Council in making its decision on these matters took into consideration all written and oral comments received on the applications.

An explanation of the purpose and effect of the Amendment describing the lands to which the Amendment to the Richmond Hill Official Plan applies is attached.  A complete copy of Amendment No. 18.4 to the Richmond Hill Official Plan, including all background materials, is available by contacting Brian DeFreitas, Senior Planner, phone number 905-771-5431 or by e-mail at brian.defreitas@richmondhill.ca.

Dated at the City of Richmond Hill this 19th day of July, 2022

Stephen M.A. Huycke, City Clerk

The Corporation of the City of Richmond Hill

225 East Beaver Creek Road

Richmond Hill ON  L4B 3P4

Phone:         905-771-8800

Fax:   905-771-2502

E-mail:  clerks@richmondhill.ca

NOTE:    Any person or public body will be entitled to receive the Notice of the Decision from The Regional Municipality of York provided a written request to be notified with respect to Amendment No. 18.4 to the Richmond Hill Official Plan (including the person’s or public body’s address) is made to The Regional Municipality of York, Planning Department, 4th Floor, 17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 6Z1.

Part One – The Preamble

1.1       Purpose

            The purpose of this Amendment to the Richmond Hill Official Plan is to address several key directions provided in the City Plan 2041 Key Directions report for the Official Plan update, which includes recommendations set out in the City’s Affordable Housing Strategy (2021) endorsed by Council, and to also put into action measures that seek to facilitate the creation of complete communities, respect distinguishing features of neighbourhoods, and improve residents’ access to activities, services, and day-to-day needs within a 15 minute walking distance from their home. 

1.2       Location

            The lands affected by this Amendment are City-wide, and apply to all lands within the Settlement Area that are designated Neighbourhood, pursuant to the City’s Official Plan (2010).

1.3       Basis

            The proposed amendment is considered by Council to be appropriate for the following reasons:

• the amendment is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020), which requires that municipalities plan for and accommodate intensification and redevelopment within existing settlement areas to create more sustainable communities and to use land and infrastructure more efficiently;
• the amendment conforms to A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2019), which supports the achievement of complete communities that feature a diverse mix of land uses and convenient access to local stores, services and public service facilities;
• the amendment conforms to the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (2017) which promotes for the efficient use of land within Settlement Areas through intensification and redevelopment within urban areas, and encourages the development of communities that provide their residents with convenient access to an appropriate mix of employment, transportation options, local services and a full range of housing and public service facilities;
• the amendment conforms to the York Region Official Plan (2010), which designates the subject lands “Urban Area” and encourages intensification by diversifying housing mix, promote affordable housing, and encouraging infill development and redevelopment within the Urban Area boundary;  and
• the amendment provides policy direction to address matters related to the achievement of “15-minute” complete communities and permissions for “gentle density” within the Neighborhood designation where appropriate, while balancing the desire to protect distinguishing features of Neighbourhoods.

1.4       Implementation and Interpretation

The implementation of this Amendment shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, and the respective policies of the City of Richmond Hill Official Plan.

Attachment 1 to this amendment illustrates how the implementation of OPA 18.4 will be supported through the provision of a new Appendix (Appendix 9 – Priority Infill Areas) to the Official Plan.  The Appendix is not an operative part of the Official Plan, and is provided for information purposes only.