NOTICE OF THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NO. 60 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. 60 to the Richmond Hill Official Plan on the 26th day of March, 2025 through the enactment of By-law 41-25 and in accordance with Sections 16 and 17 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 April 28, 2025. 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 $351.00 payable to the City of Richmond Hill.

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

The proposed Official Plan Amendment No. 60 is exempt from approval by The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. 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 8th day of April, 2025

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: Specified person, public body or registered owner may appeal a decision of the municipality to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

No specified person, public body or registered owner shall be added as a party to the hearing of the appeal unless, before the plan was passed, the specified person, public body or registered owner 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 specified person, public body or registered owner as a party.

Part One - The Preamble

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of this Amendment to the City of Richmond Hill Official Plan to permit the lands shown on Schedule 1 Land Use Plan to be used for high density residential development comprised of a ten (10) storey apartment building and three (3) storey townhouse dwellings, including stacked townhouses on the subject lands.

1.2        Location

The lands affected by this Amendment are legally described as Blocks 123, 126 and 136, Registered Plan 65M-2816 (Municipal Address: 11305 Yonge Street). The lands are located on the east side of Yonge Street, south of Devonsleigh Boulevard and have a total lot area of 0.77 hectares {1.89 acres).

1.3        Basis

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

1. The proposed high-density, compact development efficiently uses a vacant and underutilized site. The development responds to the policies set forth by the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024 ("PPS'? with regards to intensification and compact urban form. The increase in density from its surroundings helps to contribute to meeting the intensification targets encouraged by the Province within a designated growth area.

2. The York Region Official Plan (2022) {''ROP") guides economic, environmental and community building decisions to manage growth within York Region and establishes policies that support more detailed and refined planning by local municipalities. The ROP contains policies that support the development of a diverse and compatible mix of land uses and intensification which is to be directed within strategic locations in the built-up area. The ROP also contains policies relating to fostering high-quality design, a mix and range of housing types, the protection of natural heritage features and safety in relation to natural hazards.

The subject lands are designated Urban Area in accordance with Map 1 (Regional Structure) of the ROP and designated Community Area in accordance with Map 1A (Land Use Designations). The eastern portion of the subject lands are further identified as being part of the Regional Greenlands System. The Urban Area and Community 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 providing a high density development utilizing existing services to contribute to the creation of a complete community. Lands identified as Regional Greenlands System are to be protected and enhanced over the long term. In this regard, the proposed high density residential development is proposed on the portion of the lands designated Community Area located outside of the Regional Greenlands System, which is permitted in accordance with the ROP.

The proposal demonstrates conformity with the policy direction and objectives of the York Region Official Plan.

3. The subject lands are designated Regional Mixed-Use Corridor and Natural Core in accordance with Schedule A2 {Land Use) of the City's Official Plan

{"Plan" 2010). The Regional Mixed-Use Corridor designation supports a broad range and mix of land uses and activities in a compact, pedestrian-friendly and transit-oriented built form, including high and medium density residential uses. The proposed development maintains the general intent and purpose of the goals, objectives and policies of the Plan, including providing residential uses and affordable housing in a compact form to contribute towards the creation of a complete community.

The Natural Core designation is intended to maintain, improve and restore the ecological integrity of natural features outside the central corridor of the Oak Ridges Moraine. The subject development proposes to rezone and convey the natural heritage features and their associated buffers on the subject lands to a public authority to ensure long term protection and conservation.