NOTICE OF THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NO. 22 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. 22 to the Richmond Hill Official Plan on the 9th day of June, 2021 through the enactment of By-law 65-21 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 applicatons.

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. 22 to the Richmond Hill Official Plan, including all background materials, is available by contacting Chun Chu, Senior Planner, phone number 905-771-5493 or by e-mail at chun.chu@richmondhill.ca.

Dated at the City of Richmond Hill this 23rd day of June, 2021

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. 22 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 implement policy modifications to the “Special Policy Area,” “Natural Hazards” and “Neighbourhood” policies and to implement a revised boundary for the Lake Wilcox Special Policy Area (SPA) as approved by the Ministers of Natural Resources (MNRF) and Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH).

1.2       Location

The lands affected by this Amendment are located within the floodplain as determined by the 2014 Floodline and identified as Special Policy Area (Revised Proposed) on Schedule “1” attached hereto.

1.3       Basis

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

• The proposed Amendment recognizes that in the Lake Wilcox SPA, strict adherence to the hazard policies of the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS), 2020 concerning new development would result in social and economic hardships and provides a separate set of policies in accordance with the PPS Special Policy Area policies and definition, to provide for the continued viability of existing uses, which are generally on a small scale. 

• By way of letter dated April 6, 2021, the proposed Amendment has been approved by the Ministers of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) in accordance with the Provincial Special Policy Area approval guidelines. 

• The proposed Amendment is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS), 2020. 

• The proposed Amendment conforms to the Region of York Official Plan. 

• The proposed Amendment implements the policies of the Richmond Hill Official Plan that require an update to the policies and mapping of the Lake Wilcox SPA.