NOTICE OF THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NO. 39 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. 39 to the Richmond Hill Official Plan on the 25th day of January, 2023 through the enactment of By-law 13-23 and in accordance with Sections 17 and 21 of the Planning Act, as amended.

AND TAKE NOTICE that an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal in respect of this Amendment may be made by filing a written notice of appeal with the City Clerk of The Corporation of the City of Richmond Hill, no later than 4:30 p.m. on February 21, 2023. A Notice of Appeal will set out the reasons for the appeal and the specific part of the proposed official plan or plan amendment to which the appeal applies. A Notice of Appeal will be accompanied by a certified cheque or money order in the amount of $1,100.00, payable to the Minister of Finance and be accompanied by the processing fee prescribed under the Tariff of Fees By-law in the amount of $333.00 payable to the City of Richmond Hill. Certified cheques are not required when the cheque is from a law firm.

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. 39 to the Richmond Hill Official Plan, including all background materials, is available by contacting Simone Fiore, Senior Planner, phone number 905-771-2479 or by e-mail at simone.fiore@richmondhill.ca.

The proposed Official Plan Amendment No. 39 is exempt from approval by The Regional Municipality of York. The decision of the Council of The Corporation of the City of Richmond Hill is final if a Notice of Appeal is not received on or before the last day for filing a Notice of Appeal.

Dated at the City of Richmond Hill this 1st day of February, 2023

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

Who Can File an Appeal: Only individuals, corporations and public bodies may appeal a decision of the municipality to the Ontario Land Tribunal. A notice of appeal may not be filed by an unincorporated association or group.  However, a notice of appeal may be filed in the name of an individual who is a member of the association or the group on its behalf.

No person or public body shall be added as a party to the hearing of the appeal unless, before the plan was passed, the person or public body made oral submissions at a public meeting or written submissions to the council or, in the opinion of the Ontario Land Tribunal, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public body as a party.

Part One – The Preamble

1.1       Purpose

            The purpose of this Amendment to the Richmond Hill Official Plan is to amend Chapter 6 of the Official Plan of the City of Richmond Hill in order to provide site specific polices and to amend Schedule A11 to add the Exception Area 38 to the Schedule. This amendment will allow the development of an eight storey long term care facility and two 10 storey retirement home buildings with at-grade commercial uses on the subject lands.

1.2       Location

            The lands affected by this Amendment are located on the west side of Yonge Street, legally described as Part of Lot 54, Concession 1, W.Y.S., and municipally known as 11300 Yonge Street (the “Subject Lands”). The subject lands have a total area of approximately 2.07 hectares (5.12 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: 

• The Provincial Policy Statement (“PPS 2020”) sets out the overall direction on matters of Provincial interest related to land use planning and development, and includes policies that encourage the efficient use of land, infrastructure and services by directing development within existing settlement areas. The PPS also requires the provision of a range and mix of land uses with densities to meet intensification targets and manage growth within existing settlement areas, while providing for complete communities.

The proposed development is consistent with the PPS with respect to the efficient use of land, infrastructure and services, and provides for employment opportunities.

• The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (“Growth Plan” 2019) was consolidated and updated in 2020. The 2019 Growth Plan guides decisions on a wide range of matters, including economic development, land use planning, urban form and housing. It also promotes increased intensification of existing built-up areas, with a focus on urban growth centres, corridors and major transit stations. To support the above objectives, the Growth Plan includes policies that direct growth within settlement areas, provide for a mix of uses and services, encourage housing options, protect natural heritage features and establish minimum intensification and density targets, among other matters.

The proposed development conforms to the Growth Plan with respect to accommodating urban growth and development within a settlement area by providing a mix of uses in the form of residential, institutional and commercial.

• The new York Region Official Plan (ROP 2022) designates the subject lands Urban Area in accordance with Map 1 (Regional Structure) of the ROP. The Urban Area policies permit a full range and mix of urban uses. The proposal reinforces and supports the planned urban structure identified in the ROP by utilizing existing services to contribute to the creation of a complete community. The proposal demonstrates consistency with the objectives of the York Region Official Plan.
• The subject lands are designated Regional Mixed Use Corridor in accordance with Schedule A2 (Land Use) of the City’s Official Plan (“Plan” 2010). The Regional Mixed Use Corridor policies permit high density mixed use, pedestrian friendly and transit oriented uses through intensification and development. The development maintains the general intent and purpose of the goals, objectives and policies of the plan, including providing a range of dwelling types and uses in an appropriate location within the City to contribute to a complete community. The proposal demonstrates consistency with the objectives of the City’s Official Plan.