The Pembina Institute has completed a detailed review of the implementation of smart growth planning policies in three Ontario municipalities: the City of Ottawa, the Region of Waterloo and York Region. The study Local Implementation of Smart Growth Policies in Ontario: Three Case Studies is now available on the Pembina Institute's website at www.pembina.org.
The three municipalities studied have all recently adopted high-profile planning policies reflecting smart growth principles. The stated purposes of these policies are to promote transportation alternatives to the automobile, focus development in existing urban areas rather than greenfield sites, promote higher urban densities and improve the mix of land uses and housing options.
The case studies assessed each municipality's formal policies and, to the extent possible, recent planning and infrastructure investment decisions against 11 criteria reflecting smart growth principles. The criteria included development location, land-use density, scale of development, land-use mix, location of public services, transportation policies, connectivity, streetscapes, public space, natural heritage conservation and overall planning processes.
The three case studies highlight continuing gaps between the directions laid out in formal policies, and the actual planning and infrastructure investment decisions and policies being made by municipal councils. The stated purpose of York Region's 2004 Centres and Corridors Strategy, for example, is to increase transit use and focus development in urbanized areas south of the Oak Ridges Moraine. However, the Region is also continuing to pursue the outwards expansion of both sewer and water infrastructure and the provincial highway network, particularly north of the Moraine.
Waterloo Region's 2003 Regional Growth Management Strategy suggests that future development is to be focused in city and township urban areas, particularly along the proposed rapid transit Central Transportation Corridor. At the same time, the plan makes provision for extensive greenfield development, particularly for employment purposes, and there are continuing pressures for extensive road and highway expansions from area municipalities.
The City of Ottawa's 2003 Official Plan proposes greyfield and mainstreet redevelopment, emphasizes connectivity and pedestrian and transit access, sets targets for higher densities, and promotes a better mix of uses and housing types in new developments. However, even under the revised plan, two thirds of new residential development is expected to be on greenfield sites beyond the greenbelt, and focus of transportation investments focus on roads rather than transit.
The case studies also highlight the impact of provincial policies on local planning and infrastructure decisions. Initiatives such as the Oak Ridges Moraine plan have played a major role in the protection of natural heritage areas in the affected municipalities. At the same time, proposed provincial highway expansions have had significant impacts on planning for future development, particularly in greenfield locations. In all three cases, the transit expansion plans that anchor municipal efforts to reduce reliance on the automobile and promote more sustainable urban development patterns will be dependent on provincial government investments for their implementation
On the basis of the case studies, the Pembina Institute recommends that the provincial government:
- Establish a criteria-based system for decision making regarding municipal requests for capital assistance for transit expansion projects, following the recommendations of the National Round Table on Environment and Economy (NRTEE).
- Ensure the consideration of impacts on future development and transportation patterns in the environmental assessments of alternatives to meet transportation needs to be served by new, expanded or extended provincial highways.
- Provide technical and policy support to municipalities to promote the adoption of more sustainable development patterns.
- Complete the Ontario Municipal Board Reform process initiated in June 2004.
- Reform the Development Charges Act to promote more sustainable urban development patterns.
For more information contact:
Mark Winfield, PhD, Director, Environmental Governance
Tel: 416-978-5656
Cell: 416-434-8130
e-mail: markw@pembina.org
Carol Brunt, M.A., Report Author
Tel: 819-483-6288 ext 23
e-mail: carolb@pembina.org