Notice of the Adoption of Amendment No. 21 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. 21 to the Richmond Hill Official Plan on the 25th day of November, 2020 through the enactment of By-law 147-20 and in accordance with Sections 17 and 21 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 below.  A complete copy of Amendment No. 21 to the Richmond Hill Official Plan, including all background materials, is available by contacting Jeff Healey, Senior Planner - Subdivisions, at (905) 771-6452 or by e-mail at jeff.healey@richmondhill.ca.

Dated at the City of Richmond Hill this 10th day of December, 2020

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. 21 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.

Amendment No. 18.2 to the Richmond Hill Official Plan

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of this Amendment to the Richmond Hill Official Plan is to amend the provisions of the Official Plan of the Richmond Hill Planning Area respecting

Chapter 9 - the North Leslie Secondary Plan, to permit a 15 metre buffer rather than a minimum 30 metre buffer to a wetland located outside the limits of the

Protected Countryside Area of the Greenbelt Plan and to permit a 10 metre buffer rather than a minimum 30 metre buffer to the Regional flood line along a minor tributary on the subject lands.

1.2 Location

The lands affected by this Amendment are located north of Elgin Mills Road East, west of Leslie Street and south of 19th Avenue, legally described as Part of Lot

28, Concession 2, E.Y.S., City of Richmond Hill, Regional Municipality of York, municipally known as 11190 Leslie Street (the "subject lands"). The subject lands have a total area of approximately 19.10 hectares (47.19 acres) and are shown on Schedule 1 attached hereto.

1.3 Basis

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

1. The Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) sets out the overall direction on matters of Provincial interest related to land use planning and development, and includes policies that encourage new growth within urban areas. The PPS requires that natural heritage features be protected for the long term and the diversity and connectivity of natural heritage features shall be maintained, restored or where possible improved recognizing linkages between and among natural heritage features and areas.

The proposed development is consistent with the PPS with respect to the efficient use of land and infrastructure, and the preservation of natural heritage features.

2. The Greenbelt Plan was updated in 2017 to provide clarity about urban structure and how future growth should be accommodated and what must be protected for future generations. The Protected Countryside lands identified in the Greenbelt Plan are intended to enhance the spatial extent of agriculturally and environmentally protected lands while at the same time improving linkages between these areas and the surrounding major lake systems and watersheds. The Greenbelt Plan also identifies Key Natural Heritage Features and requires that development demonstrate no negative impact on these features.

The proposed development conforms with the policies of the Greenbelt Plan with respect to the preservation of Key Natural Heritage Features and Key Hydrologic Features and their functions located within the Protected Countryside.

3. The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe ("Growth Plan") was updated in 2020 and is intended to guide decisions on a wide range of matters, including economic development, land use planning, urban form and housing. The Growth Plan promotes increased intensification of existing built-up areas, with a focus on urban growth centres, corridors and major transit stations and providing a minimum density target for Greenfield areas.

The Growth Plan also provides for the identification and protection of a Natural Heritage System for the Growth Plan outside of the Greenbelt Area and Settlement Areas, and applies protections similar to those in the Greenbelt Plan to provide consistent and long-term protection throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

The proposed development conforms to the Growth Plan with respect to accommodating urban growth and development, and protecting Key Natural Heritage Features and Key Hydrologic Features and their functions.

4. The York Region Official Plan (YROP) Map 1 - Regional Structure, designates the subject lands Urban Area and Greenbelt Plan Area. The new community area of North Leslie has been planned in a comprehensive and coordinated manner consistent with the policies of York Region through the City of Richmond Hill's Secondary Plan for the area. The proposed development demonstrates the environmental objectives of the York Region

Official Plan and conforms with the Regional Greenlands, Natural Features and area specific policies to the North Leslie Secondary Plan contained within the York Region Official Plan.

5. The subject lands are located within Chapter 9 - the North Leslie Secondary Plan, of the City of Richmond Hill's Official Plan. The Secondary Plan promotes the protection of environmental features, surface and groundwater resources, and environmental functions and processes, forming the basis from which all other land use policies are derived. The proposed development achieves these objectives, as outlined in the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) completed by Dillon Consulting. The proposed development provides for compensation to address the wetland buffer reduction, as it provides for an average 30 metre buffer to a wetland located outside the limits of the Protected Countryside Area and located on the east side of the minor tributary. The proposed development meets the minimum density requirements of the Secondary Plan, while ensuring the protection of the environmental features, surface and groundwater resources and environmental functions and processes on the subject lands.

The proposed development maintains the general intent and purpose of the goals, objectives and policies of the North Leslie Secondary Plan in being an Environment First Plan. The proposed development preserves the major and minor tributaries and associated wetlands of the Rouge River by demonstrating that the development provides sufficient environmental buffers to Key Natural Heritage Features and Key Hydrologic Features and their functions.