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Study continues for potential boundary expansion land requirements
As the City continues its Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) process to plan for future growth, at its meeting on April 25, 2022, Council provided direction to update the City’s Land Needs Assessment to contemplate higher minimum intensification and designated greenfield density targets for residential development to be considered with boundary expansion recommendations.
The Province is requiring the City to plan for sufficient land to accommodate a future population of 49,000 people and 26,000 jobs over the next 30 years. The City’s previous Land Needs Assessment, completed in 2020, determined the City does not have sufficient land for growth within its existing boundaries based on an intensification target of approximately 50 per cent.
“Orillia Council recognizes the need to explore all options and that the decisions we make today will have a major impact on the future growth of the city, surrounding areas, and the fabric of our community,” said Mayor Steve Clarke. “The Municipal Comprehensive Review is a very complex planning process and must be carefully balanced to direct the future growth of the City and its citizens. Council voted unanimously to support revisiting our Land Needs Assessment to explore increased intensification options for residential development and how that could impact what amount of provincially required growth could be accommodated through intensification, rather than solely through a potential boundary expansion.”
In addition to voting to consider a higher intensification strategy, Council also directed staff to establish a set of ‘Made in Orillia’ planning principles to manage growth from an environmental, cultural, economic and social perspective. This will be completed as part of the Official Plan update, which is anticipated to begin in 2023.
“At this point in time, no decisions have been made about the future of Orillia’s boundary,” said Jill Lewis, Senior Planner. “Following Council’s direction, the City is currently exploring its options for future growth. Parallel planning processes are underway to study the impacts of higher intensification and greenfield density targets for residential development within the existing boundary, while we also continue evaluating the lands surrounding the City for a potential future boundary expansion.”
Before any decisions will be made by Council in 2023, further public and stakeholder consultation will take place, including opportunities to provide input and feedback on increased intensification and greenfield density residential development options and the preliminary results of the Technical Land Evaluation (see the anticipated timeline).
Help shape the future of the City by staying up to date on the MCR process, including public input opportunities. Learn more about the MCR process and sign up for the email mailing list at orillia.ca/MCR.
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Jill Lewis, B.Com., M.A., RPP
Senior Planner
705-329-7241
jlewis@orillia.ca
Melissa Gowanlock
Manager of Communications
705-330-1951 (cell)
magowanlock@orillia.ca
