A Sustainable Action Plan for TORONTO

Location & History Previous Planning Efforts Current Planning Efforts Growth Future Needs A New Plan for Toronto

Location & History Toronto is located in the Great Lakes Region of Southern Ontario, Canada Founded as the Town of York in 1793 Surpassed Montreal as Canada’s largest city in the 1980s Regional Municipality amalgamated in 1997 to become 5 th largest in N America

Location & History

Previous Planning For past 50 years, regional land use planning and transportation have been coordinated by the Province Metropolitan Toronto Planning Area – 1953 MTARTS – Choices for a Growing Region – 1967 Design for Development – 1968 Toronto-Centred Region Plan – 1970 Central Ontario Lakeshore Urban Corridor – 1975 Central Ontario Smart Growth – 2002 Places to Grow – 2004

1960s Plan for Development

Today’s Urban Areas v. 1960s Plan for the Future

Current Planning Official Plans Each Regional Government’s Plan for Development within their Municipality Oak Ridges Moraine Plan Niagara Escarpment Plan Greenbelt Plan “Places to Grow”

Greater Toronto Area Niagara Escarpment Lake Simcoe Lake Ontario Oak Ridges Moraine CITY of TORONTO HALTON PEEL YORK DURHAM

Greenbelt Plan A broad band of protected countryside that Provides for a diverse range of rural communities, agriculture, tourism, recreation, and resource uses Gives permanent protection to the natural systems, and forms an environmental framework around which major urbanization in Ontario will be organized complements existing Niagara Escarpment Plan and Oak Ridges Moraine Plan is not a “park” – permits existing uses, promotes agricultural and rural uses, and limits urban uses to existing Settlement Areas

Greenbelt Plan

“Places to Grow” where & how we should grow critical infrastructure needs what we need to protect includes reference to: “Smart Growth” work, the proposed Greenbelt Plan, the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority, and the GO Transit Expansion Plan

“Places to Grow” key themes 30 year planning and infrastructure strategy focus on strategic investment, growth in “Priority Urban Centres”, “Emerging Urban Centres”, and “Future Growth Areas” minimum 40% growth to be accommodated through intensification greater investment in transit and economic corridors for goods movement streamlining environmental assessment process

“Places to Grow”

Growth GTA growth rate is 2 nd only to Dallas Golden Horseshoe growing by 110,000 annually (equivalent to Guelph) attracts 55% of Canada’s immigration. Ontario has “exhausted” its infrastructure capacity put in place during the 1960s-1980s

Growth The problems facing Ontario today are similar to the late 1960s Strong economic growth and high immigration levels Planning/investment for infrastructure Environmental protection (Niagara Escarpment/Oak Ridges/Greenbelt) Solution was comprehensive super-regional planning.

Future Needs YearPopulation Housing Units Employment

Future Needs Population Growth Shares

Future Needs Employment Growth Shares

Future Needs To accommodate the population growth of ( ), new residential units will be required units will be in new urban areas. (15% high density, 25% medium density, and 60% low density) Assuming 15 units to the gross hectare, this will require hectares of new residential lands

Future Needs Over the next 30 years, growth forecasts indicate that new jobs will be created in areas that we have traditionally called business parks or industrial areas At 50 jobs per hectare, with a vacancy rate of 20%, hectares of new employment lands will be required

Vacant Land in GTA

Future Needs Given projected growth rates, hectares of new land is required hectares is available within 40 kilometres of Pearson Airport 9970 hectares is available beyond 40 kilometres of Pearson Airport Which leaves a shortfall of hectares

A New Plan for Toronto Courses of Action Implementation Procedures Costs Benefits

Courses of Action EXAMPLE – need many! Current plans only call for 40% of growth to built in existing urban areas (intensification) Vancouver 70% United Kingdom 60% Sydney 60-70% Increase in intensification required

Implementation How to intensify? Transit improvements Environmental assessment streamlining Financial tools Revisit Greenbelt Plan areas

Costs Costs of intensifying $ for transit improvements $ for environmental assessment streamlining $ for financial tools $ for revisiting Greenbelt Plan areas

Benefits Benefits of intensifying Transit improvements Environmental assessment streamlining Financial tools Revisit Greenbelt Plan areas