Province delays approval of York Region official plan

No set timeline for province to pass controversial document that will guide development over the next 30 years

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 30, 2022
Joseph Quigley

York Region will not find out about the fate of its official plan on any set timeline as the province is delaying its approval.

The province sent a letter to York Region and other Golden Horseshoe municipalities that it would suspend the 120-day approval period for the plan set out in the Planning Act. This comes after municipalities were required to submit their plans in July.

The move comes about due to Bill 109, passed in April, which gave the province the authority to delay.

Chief planner Paul Freeman said it was not something personal to York Region.

“The effect of it is to prevent appeals to the Ontario Land Tribunal for a lack of decision,” Freeman said. “We understand it was a precautionary measure ... I would expect and do expect, after the municipal election time period, we will be getting a decision on our official plan.”

The official plan was received by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs July 18. A 120-day timeline for approval would be mid-November, but it is now less certain when the plan might get approved.

Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said there were differing standards at play for processing these plans.

“Will they incur any penalties or fines for not processing it on time?” he asked at a housing task force meeting.

It was not unexpected, York Region chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson said.

“Everybody kind of knew,” he said. “That’s disappointing.”

The plan will guide York Region development over the next 30 years but still needs provincial signoff. It was a contested document, with council approving it 14-7 and some environmental groups opposing it.

The region is also awaiting word on whether or not the province will approve the Upper York Sewage Solutions, which it is counting on to provide the sewage capacity for the growth in the municipality.