Following indepth study and a series of public open houses, the town has drafted the Official Plan Amendments leading to a revised Urban Structure section of Oakville’s Official Plan. The plan is commonly referred to as "Livable Oakville". The draft amendments would provide how the town will accommodate growth, while protecting green-spaces and established neighbourhoods from development. The public is invited to provide input into the amendments at one of two information meetings scheduled on May 30, 2017.
“It’s vital the town has a comprehensive urban structure in its official plan because it gives us a high level look at where new growth will be focused. It sets out the basis for making planning decisions about where we live, work and play,” said Mayor Burton “Feedback from our community has helped staff prepare the draft amendments in front of us. Before they go to Council for final approval, I encourage you to review them and share your comments.”
To connect with community members, the town will be hosting two public information meetings at Town Hall on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 where the public can provide feedback on the draft Official Plan Amendments. There is an afternoon session from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. and an evening session from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The draft Official Plan Amendments would introduce a new Section 3 – Urban Structure with a corresponding detailed map A1 into the Livable Oakville Plan. These new sections would describe the importance and purpose of a town-wide urban structure and the major elements of that urban structure. The amendments would ultimately provide a framework for how the town will accommodate growth. It would also establish the basis for official plan policy and for making planning decisions. The amendment would also introduce, under Part F – Implementation, criteria for evaluating site-specific official plan amendments and their potential impacts on the town’s urban structure. In addition to being incorporated into the Livable Oakville Plan, the draft amendments also provide for revisions to the North Oakville East and West Secondary Plans to align them with the changes to the Livable Oakville Plan.
The town must consider how to accommodate required growth given that development in all areas of the town is underway or planned. Instead of developing outward, the town needed to determine the best approach for managing development within the town’s existing boundaries.
As part of the ongoing five-year Official Plan Review, the town initiated an Urban Structure Review on February 16, 2016.
Oakville’s Urban Structure Review was a town-wide examination of natural heritage and open space lands, as well as mixed use, residential, commercial and employment lands to see if changes are necessary to accommodate growth to 2041.
The review studied the role of existing and emerging growth areas such as Midtown Oakville, the Trafalgar Road Corridor and the area surrounding the Bronte GO Station; the preservation of stable residential areas and the protection of natural and cultural heritage; the relationship between growth areas and the delivery of municipal infrastructure; and criteria for evaluation of new growth areas. The Urban Structure Review was also one of three land use policy studies required to be completed under Interim Control By-law 2016-024 restricting land uses on the Glen Abbey Golf Course.
Following the May 30 public information meetings, a statutory public meeting for the draft Official Plan Amendments will be held June 12, 2017 in conjunction with the Council meeting at Town Hall. A decision meeting by Council on the recommended Official Plan Amendments is expected in the fall.
The public may view documents and background material at the Planning Services department at Town Hall between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or on the town’s Official Plan Review pages on its website at oakville.ca.
An official plan is a legal document containing goals, objectives, and policies intended to guide land use, development and growth in a municipality. Oakville's official plan is comprised of the Livable Oakville Plan and the North Oakville East and West Secondary Plans. The Planning Act requires a review of the official plan every five years. This is also called a municipal comprehensive review. For more information about the town’s Official Plan Review visit oakville.ca.
Please advise Kirk Biggar, senior planner, one week before the meeting at 905-845-6601, ext. 3968 (TTY: 905-338-4200) or by email at [email protected] if you have any accessibility needs.