East Gwillimbury eyes 34K jobs by 2031

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 9, 2014
By Simon Martin

While the Hwy. 404 extension is a boon for commuters in the area, the Town of East Gwillimbury is also hoping it can be boon for employment.

To go along with the town’s ambitious growth targets to more than triple its population of 25,000 by 2031, it is also seeking to quintuple employment from 7,000 jobs in 2009 to more than 34,000 in 2031.

The development of the Hwy. 404 employment corridor is a key element of this plan, director of planning Nick Pileggi said.

The town is considering an official plan amendment that would provide additional guidance to the employment corridor.

The corridor runs from Leslie Street and Green Lane east to Woodbine Avenue. From there, it goes north to Mount Albert Road. The area looks roughly like a backwards L.

Pileggi said the town needs to maximize opportunities to attract development and the goal is to entice prestige employment buildings that encourage height, landscaping and good design.

Office use could include research and development, hotels, conference and convention centres, banks and financial institutions, service shops and personal service shops, health and fitness recreational uses, day nurseries, restaurants, private and commercial schools, banquet halls and funeral homes.

Prestige employment design would have the front doors facing the road with parking to the side and rear, Pileggi said.

General employment would be located on lands not facing major roads in the corridor and would have less stringent urban design guidelines, Pileggi said.

The next steps for the town will be to a complete a servicing review with another public consultation in the new year.

Pileggi suggested summer 2015 as a timeline when the secondary plan would be up for adoption from council.