Bronte GO MTSA

As part of the town’s Official Plan Review, the town is conducting a study of the Bronte GO Station and surrounding area, known as a “major transit station area” or MTSA. 

The study will develop an Area Specific Plan to create a complete, transit-supportive community which accommodates future population and employment growth and development. The study is called the Bronte GO Major Transit Station Area Study.

Understanding major transit station areas

A major transit station area is a location which combines the town-wide transportation system, allows easy access to transit and transit connections, and provides a focus for transit-supportive development. 

The Province’s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2019) provides policies that local official plans must conform to when planning for MTSAs. These policies include:

• Planning for a minimum density target of residents and jobs
• The creation of complete, transit-supportive communities where people can live, work and play in one area, unless Provincial policy provides direction otherwise.

Reason for the study

The Province’s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2019), and official plan amendments brought forward as part of the town’s Urban Structure Review, identified the Bronte GO Station as a major transit station area which needs to be studied. 

The study is to provide updated and new policies to delineate the boundary of the major transit station area, the mix of land uses (e.g. employment, commercial, residential) and the intensity and scale of future development.

Location

The provincial Growth Plan states that a MTSA is generally defined as the area within an approximate 500 to 800 metre radius of a transit station, representing about a 10-minute walk. The provincial Growth Plan also states that the boundary of the MTSA must be outlined in a transit-supportive manner which maximizes the size of the area and the number of potential transit users that are within walking distance of the station.

An MTSA boundary (pdf) was outlined in coordination with Halton Region as part of the study process. Halton Region is responsible for outlining the final boundary.

Official Plan Amendments

On November 25, 2022, Halton Region made a decision to approve, with modifications, the town initiated Official Plan Amendment 41 (OPA 41) for the Bronte GO Major Transit Station Area. The Bronte GO Major Transit Station Area is identified as a Protected Major Transit Station Area in the Regional Official Plan pursuant to Section 16 (16) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990 as amended.

• Notice of Decision and Regional Modifications (OPA 41)

On November 1, 2021, Council passed a by-law to adopt Official Plan Amendment 41 (OPA 41) for the Bronte GO Major Transit Station Area. OPA 41 has been sent to Halton Region for final approval.

• Adopted Official Plan Amendment 41 – Bronte GO MTSA
• Staff Report – Planning and Development Council Agenda – Item 7.1

Results

The study will result in an Area Specific Plan to guide how the Bronte GO Station and surrounding area will grow and change in the future. 

The Area Specific Plan will be supported by a number of technical studies, and will provide policy direction to inform a future official plan amendment to the Livable Oakville Plan, including:

• delineated boundary of the MTSA;
• mix of land uses, including building heights and density;
• transportation, including transit and active transportation;
• municipal infrastructure improvements including community facilities;
• urban design and public realm improvements; and,
• implementation tools

A final report and recommended town-initiated Official Plan Amendment was presented to Council for approval on November 1, 2021. Should Town Council adopt the Official Plan Amendment, it is then forwarded to Halton Region for final approval.

Next steps

OPA 41 has been sent to Halton Region for final approval. Halton Region may make further modifications to the OPA prior to final approval. 

Town staff continue to work with Halton Region.