Have your say: York Region invites comments on future growth

Thestar.com
Jan. 24, 2022

Where would you put 991,400 new neighbours?

That’s how many residents are expected to move to this area in the coming 30 years.

The Region of York wants to know how you think that growth should be accommodated.

The region is anticipating that its population will grow from 1.2 million to 2.02 million by the year 2051.

The Official Plan -- a document outlining how to meet the needs of those future residents and businesses, as well as the existing ones -- was last updated in 2010.

A draft plan, updated to align with new provincial plans, was released on Nov. 25.

Now it’s time for the public to have its say with a virtual open house set for Jan. 25.

Residents can hear how York Region proposes to accommodate the growth and take part in a Q-and-A session.

Topics will include housing, transportation, climate resilience and more.

A graph showing a York Region population and employment forecast until 2051 by municipality

-- source: Regional Municipality of York

That feedback will be considered as staff revise the draft plan, with an expectation that the new Official Plan will be adopted by council mid-2022.

Regional council, in recent months, has seen controversy over plans to bring new growth into undeveloped “whitebelt” land, rather than contain it in existing settlement areas.

Scores of environmental activists and residents raised concerns that this would encourage climate-endangering sprawl, while others on council argued that it was necessary to meet growth targets.

In addition to the open house, the public is invited to review the draft Official Plan and provide comments to futureyork@york.ca by Mar. 31.

A survey contest has also been launched to seek input. To take the survey, visit York.ca/haveyoursay, call 1-877-464-9675, ext. 78845, or email futureyork@york.ca

Everyone with a connection to York Region is welcome to attend the open house live on Zoom on Tuesday, Jan. 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, visit york.ca/haveyoursay.

The meeting will be recorded and posted on york.ca/haveyoursay after the meeting date.