Livable Oakville Plan update on track

Significant progress is being made on the provincially-required review of the town’s Official Plan, staff told Council at last night’s meeting. Oakville’s Official Plan guides land use planning and applications and reflects the long term vision of the town.

The original primary intent of the town’s Official Plan Review was to meet Council’s goal to update and consolidate the town’s land use policies in a single official plan – the Livable Oakville Plan. Since the work began, however, the province has updated its Growth Plan for the Golden Horseshoe and required municipalities to bring their official plans in line with the Growth Plan by 2023.

The town’s 1984 Official Plan, including the more recent North Oakville East and West Secondary Plans, still applies to the lands between Dundas Street and Highway 407. The North Oakville East and West Secondary Plans were finalized after lengthy appeals at the then-called Ontario Municipal Board. These secondary plans were enacted separately from the Town of Oakville’s Official Plan.

Over the past six years, town planning staff has carefully developed innovations to bridge and unite the plans and consulted the public and Council. Staff have also analyzed and reported to Council and the public on the new Provincial Growth Plan and its impacts on Oakville.

The town’s Official Plan Review will conclude with a final official plan amendment, “the Conformity OPA”, which will incorporate the recommended policy updates from the remainder of the work program as well as changes required to address conformity with the Regional Official Plan, as amended, and the Growth Plan. Staff are currently targeting June 2023 for Council’s adoption of the Conformity OPA.

An official plan is a legal document containing goals, objectives, and policies intended to guide land use, development and growth in a municipality. The Planning Act requires a review of the official plan every five years. The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe now requires Halton Region – which includes Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills – to plan for a total forecasted population of 1.1 million people, as well as 500,000 jobs, by the year 2051. Oakville’s share of the Region’s forecasted growth is currently being determined through the Regional Official Plan Review, led by Regional Council.

For more information, please review the staff report (item 7.2) in the December 7 Planning and Development Council Agenda and visit our Official Plan Review page.

Quote:

“The Livable Oakville Plan is a historic achievement that helped Oakville become the most livable town in Canada. Our Official Plan helps us control growth and protect our existing neighbourhoods.  Thanks to public input from engaged residents and resident associations, the town has made great progress moving our Official Plan Review forward over the past several years. I welcome all Oakville residents to participate in the Official Plan Review process and help us shape the future of our community.”