Land Needs Assessment Methodology
Positive Step Forward

NRU
March 28, 2018
Kevin Eby

On December 19, 2017, the province began a 10-week consultation process relating to its proposed methodology for determining the amount of land that could be brought into urban areas to accommodate future growth. During that period, the Proposed Methodology for Land Needs Assessment for the Greater Golden Horseshoe generated over 40 submissions from municipalities, developers, various organizations and members of the public.

One of the objectives of the provincial Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2017) is to insure that sufficient land is available within urban areas to accommodate forecasted growth, as shortages of land within these areas can be a factor in driving up the cost of housing. It is also important, however, to ensure there is not too much land designated to accommodate growth, as this can result in urban sprawl. Determining exactly how much land is required can sometimes be a balancing act, and has long been a major source of conflict between developers, municipalities and community groups.

While most submissions were supportive of the need for a standard methodology, some, including the Ontario Homebuilder’s Association, expressed concern that the proposed methodology doesn’t permit municipalities the flexibility to base future land needs on projected market demand for specific types of housing as had been allowed before the Growth Plan came into effect.

Some submissions offered recommendations to improve clarity and implementation. For example, Peel Region in its submission notes that the level of detail required to satisfy the background analysis is not clearly articulated.

“As an example, it is unclear whether the delineation of boundaries and allocation of minimum densities for Major Transit Station Areas will be a required input for intensification analysis to support the land needs assessment.” The submission concludes that “detailed implementation planning (i.e. land use, heights, zoning, and urban design) should not be required as part of the land needs assessment process.”

The joint submission from the Halton municipalities recommends that the province commit to clear timelines and adequate staff resourcing for the provincial review of the land needs assessment. It requests “guidance on how and when monitoring and reporting are to be provided, and that a consistent standard be set for the entire Growth Plan area.”

Many submissions noted that the development of a standard process for determining land needs is an important step in resolving the confusion that occurred as a result of the rule changes that occurred in 2006.

“During the last round of municipal comprehensive reviews, there were a number of complex and lengthy OMB hearings focused on the different land needs methodologies, technical assumptions and outcomes. … It is our expectation that the introduction of a standard land needs methodology will provide greater clarity on the land needs forecasting process,” stated the Ontario Professional Planners Institute in its submission.

The province will be considering these submissions in the preparation of the final land needs assessment methodology, which is anticipated to be released later this year.