2013 Year In Review
NRU
January 8, 2013
With more and more people looking to make their homes (and livelihoods) in the GTA, municipalities worked toward a number of common goals in 2013. Affordable housing came in as a top priority, with York Region, especially, looking to create more living space for potential new residents.
Many cities looked at legalizing second units, as mandated by the province, to help ease the housing pinch. Municipalities stretched toward transit solutions this past year, too, with further discussion around the Metrolinx Big Move, and a panel of 13 experts appointed by the province to determine best funding options to implement that plan.
As GTA municipalities increasingly embrace a more urban form, planners look to create higher density residences—but not too high. The need for green space remains top of mind for many, with policies adopted in all regions to maintain a balance between development and environmental protection and preservation. Read on for a reminder of the specifics, in our 2013 GTA year in review.
MARCH
City of Vaughan committee of the whole approves plans for a more urban, pedestrian-friendly residential and commercial precinct along the Spadina subway extension. York Region updates policies in its official plan to protect its municipal water supply in advance of provincial government approval of its source water protection plan.
APRIL
York Region plans to foster community hubs in Vaughan and Newmarket, to boost its economy by developing already key sectors, attracting a greater post-secondary presence and creating more local jobs. Wellesley Institute housing and innovation director Michael Shapcott says he worries the poor will be left out of the decision-making process as Metrolinx determines how to pay for the Big Move.
MAY
Brampton, Vaughan and Richmond Hill team up to create standardized sustainability performance metrics in an effort to boost the sustainability of new developments while smoothing the application process for developers. Local residents and regional activists warn that a $270-million electricity transformer station that Hydro One proposed for Clarington could endanger the headwaters of many rivers flowing into Lake Ontario, risking contamination of the region’s farms, as well. GTA councils debate Metrolinx’s proposed revenue tools to pay for enhanced transit infrastructure, but few are endorsed.
Development and OMB news
The OMB allows an appeal by Islington Palisades Ltd. of Vaughan’s failure to approve a zoning by-law amendment and site plan to permit an 89-unit apartment building for seniors. The board allows an appeal by 2190647 Ontario Inc., which was seeking permission from Vaughan to develop two 10-storey residential buildings at 4800 Highway 7.
SEPTEMBER
Vaughan finalizes policies to enable the municipality to collect section 37 benefits on new development. Research shows Lake Ontario is becoming polluted with micro plastics from facial cleansers and toothpastes, but government officials don’t seem to know
anything about it. New affordable housing opens in Richmond Hill at Mackenzie Green, a 140-unit development knocking a few more names off of York Region’s 9,900 households on the wait list for affordable housing.
OCTOBER
Preliminary planning begins for expansion of Markham’s urban boundary after the planning and development committee approves a work plan for the North Markham lands north of Major Mackenzie Drive. The Ontario Clean Air Alliance urges municipalities around the GTA to start getting their electricity from Hydro Quebec, claiming it could save the province $1-billion each year. Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association executive director Sharad Kerur says making the rate of return from investment in affordable housing attractive to private investors is paramount when it comes to providing the GTA with adequate housing. According to a report released by the Neptis Foundation, the provincial growth plan has not been successful in reducing sprawl. The provincial government says its Green Energy Act is responsible for creating 31,000 new jobs in the province, but doesn’t have the statistics to back that up.
NOVEMBER
York Region devises a plan to convince private sector developers to get back on board and build more rental housing in order to address its housing shortage. The province works to launch an inventory of pre-qualified sites for industrial development, but Mississauga economic development director Susan Amring says she doesn’t think it will to much good for the GTA.
Development and OMB news
The OMB dismisses an appeal by resident Antony Niro to increase the number of wards in Vaughan from five to six.
