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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-05-10Clarftwn Electronic Council Communications Information Package Date: May 10, 2024 Time: 12:00 PM Location: ECCIP is an information package and not a meeting. Description: An ECCIP is an electronic package containing correspondence received by Staff for Council's information. This is not a meeting of Council or Committee. Alternate Format: If this information is required in an alternate format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator, at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131. Members of Council: In accordance with the Procedural By-law, please advise the Municipal Clerk at clerks@clarington.net, if you would like to include one of these items on the next regular agenda of the appropriate Standing Committee, along with the proposed resolution for disposition of the matter. Items will be added to the agenda if the Municipal Clerk is advised by Wednesday at noon the week prior to the appropriate meeting, otherwise the item will be included on the agenda for the next regularly scheduled meeting of the applicable Committee. Members of the Public: can speak to an ECCIP item as a delegation. If you would like to be a delegation at a meeting, please visit the Clarington website. Electronic Council Communications Information Package (ECCIP) May 10, 2024 Pages 1. Region of Durham Correspondence 1.1 Asphalt Crack Sealing on Regional Roads - May 7, 2024 3 1.2 Upcoming Closure on North Street in Clarington - May 6, 2024 5 2. Durham Municipalities Correspondence 2.1 City of Oshawa - City Comments on Bill 185, the Proposed "Cutting Red 6 Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024" and the Proposed Provincial Planning Statement - May 9, 2024 3. Other Municipalities Correspondence 3.1 Multi -Municipal Energy Working Group - Unwilling Host Declaration - 54 May 1, 2024 3.2 County of Prince Edward - Help End the National Housing Affordability 57 Crisis - May 7, 2024 3.3 Township of Puslinch - Recommended Phase Out of Free Well Water 59 Testing in the 2023 Auditor General's Report - May 9, 2024 4. Provincial / Federal Government and their Agency Correspondence 4.1 Minister Seniors and Accessibility (MSAA) - Seniors Month - May 9, 2024 65 5. Miscellaneous Correspondence 5.1 Minutes from the Newcastle Business Improvement Area dated April 11, 69 2024 Page 2 777w7)))) DURHAM REGION Asphalt crack sealing on Regional Roads Posted on Tuesday, May 07, 2024 Back to Search Whitby, Ontario — The Regional Municipality of Durham is advising residents of upcoming lane restrictions at various locations in the Town of Ajax, the Municipality of Clarington, the City of Oshawa, the Township of Uxbridge and the Town of Whitby. When: May 9 to June 21. Work at each location will take approximately one to three days. Unfavourable weather conditions may impact the work schedule. Where: Work will take place at the following locations: Town of Ajax • Bayly Street, from west of Kitney Drive to east of Westney Road. • Durham Highway 2/Kingston Road, from Ritche Avenue to east of Salem Road. • Salem Road, from Bayly Street to Achilles Road. • Salem Road, from south of Mandrake Street to south of Durham Highway 2/Kingston Road. • Taunton Road, from 750 metres west of Audley Road to 555 metres east of Audley Road. Municipality of Clarington • Durham Highway 2, from 250 metres west of Maple Grove to 380 metres east of Maple Grove. • Durham Highway 2, from the east side of Townline Road to Varcoe Road. • Durham Highway 2, from 180 metres east of Green Road to west of Bowmanville Avenue. • Durham Highway 2, from east of Green Road to Boswell Drive. • Durham Highway 2, from Trulls Road to Courtice Road. • Durham Road 20, from 60 metres west of Middle Road to 60 metres west of Liberty Street. • Liberty Street, from north of Baseline Road to south of Queen Street. • Maple Grove Road, from 120 metres south of Durham Highway 2 to 143 metres north of Durham Highway 2. City of Oshawa Page 3 • Rossland Road, from Ritson Road to east of Simcoe Street. • Simcoe Street, from Steepleview Court to Ridge Top Court. • Simcoe Street, from 60 metres north of Taunton Road to Oshawa Creek. • Stevenson Road, from 200 metres south of Rossland Road to north of Rossland Road. • Stevenson Road, from the Ministry of Transportation's (MTO) limits to south of Gibb Street. • Taunton Road, from west of Simcoe Street to east of Ritson Road. • Wentworth Avenue, from Boundary Road to Stevenson Road Township of Uxbridge • Goodwood Road, from 0.5 kilometres west of Concession 6 to 0.5 kilometres east of Lake Ridge Road. Town of Whitby • Thickson Road, from Columbus Road East to Highway 12. • Taunton Road, from 140 metres west of Coronation Road to east of Valleywood Drive. Why: To safely complete routing and sealing of asphalt cracks. Note: The Region realizes that the work may be disruptive and will make every effort to complete the work as quickly and efficiently as possible. Drivers are asked to exercise caution for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and the work crews. -30- For media inquiries, please contact Corporate Communications(maiito:corporatecommunications@durham.ca).. © 2024 Durham Region, 605 Rossland Road East, Whitby, Ontario L1N 6A3, Canada, Telephone (within regional limits): 311, Telephone: 905-668-7711, Toll -Free: 1-800-372-1102 By GHD Digital Page 4 777B7)))) DURHAM REGION Upcoming closure on North Street in Clarington Posted on Monday, May 06, 2024 Back to Search Whitby, Ontario — The Regional Municipality of Durham, Works Department advises residents of a complete road closure on North Street (Regional Road 17) in Newcastle in the Municipality of Clarington. When: The work will begin on May 21 and is expected to be complete by September 30, weather permitting. Where: Full road closure on North Street, from Grady Drive to 970 metres north of Grady Drive in Newcastle. Why: To safely reconstruct North Street to support new development. Note: The Region realizes that the work may be disruptive and will make every effort to complete the work as quickly and efficiently as possible. Drivers are asked to exercise caution for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and the work crews. —30— For media inquiries, please contact Corporate Communications(maflto:corporatecommunicatfons@durham.ca).. © 2024 Durham Region, 605 Rossland Road East, Whitby, Ontario L1N 6A3, Canada, Telephone (within regional limits): 311, Telephone: 905-668-7711, Toll -Free: 1-800-372-1102 By GHD Digital Page 5 W May 9, 2024 Oshawa° Economic & Development Services Department Planning Services File: 12-03-3612 Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Sent via email to: Plan ningConsultation(a)-ontario.ca MFPB .ontario.ca growth plan ning(a)ontario.ca scott.sterling(a ontario.ca Re: City Comments on Bill 185, the Proposed "Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024" and the Proposed Provincial Planning Statement Please be advised that the Economic and Development Services Committee at a meeting held on May 6, 2024 dealt with the above -noted matter and adopted the following recommendation: That the Economic and Development Services Committee recommend to City Council: 1. That Report ED-24-54 dated May 1, 2024, including Attachments 5 and 6, be endorsed as the City's comments on the Province's proposed amendments to certain Acts under Bill 185, "Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024" as well as the proposed Provincial Planning Statement and Ontario Regulation 73/23: Municipal Planning Data Reporting. 2. That Economic and Development Services staff be authorized to submit the comments contained in Report ED-24-54 dated May 1, 2024 related to Bill 185, "Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024", the proposed Provincial Planning Statement and the proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 73/23: Municipal Planning Data Reporting in response to the associated proposals posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario website. 3. That staff be authorized to forward a copy of Report ED-24-54 dated May 1, 2024 and the related Council resolution to the Region of Durham, Durham area municipalities, and Durham area M.P.P.s." Please find enclosed a copy of Report ED-24-54 for your consideration in response to Bill 185, the Proposed "Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024" and the Proposed Provincial Planning Statement. Please be advised that Report ED-24-54 is being sent in advance of City Council's endorsement in order to meet the commenting deadline. In the event that Report ED-24-54 is not supported by City Council, staff will ask the Province to consider the comments as withdrawn. The Corporation of the City of Oshawa, 50 Centre Street South, Oshawa, Ontario L1 H 3Z7 Phone 905-436-3853 1-800-667-4292 Fax 905-436-5699 www.oshawa.ca/planning Page 6 Page 2 If you require further information or clarification, please contact Laura Brown at the address shown or by telephone at (905) 436-3311, extension 2125 or by email to labrown @oshawa.ca. Meaghan Harrington, MCIP, RPP, Manager Policy LB/k Attachment C. Region of Durham Durham area municipalities Durham area M.P.P.s Page 7 �Dshawa- Public Report To: Economic and Development Services Committee From: Anthony Ambra, P.Eng., Commissioner, Economic and Development Services Department Report Number: ED-24-54 Date of Report: May 1, 2024 Date of Meeting: May 6, 2024 Subject: City Comments on Bill 185, the Proposed "Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024" and the Proposed Provincial Planning Statement mwej File: 1.0 Purpose 12-03-3612 The purpose of this Report is to obtain Council approval of City comments on: ■ Bill 185, the Province's proposed "Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024", being an Act to amend various statutes to "reduce red tape and remove costly burdens in order to make government work better for the families, business owners, municipalities and workers that are building Ontario" ("Bill 185"); ■ the Province's proposed new Provincial Planning Statement (the "P.P.S."); and, ■ the Province's proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 73/23: Municipal Planning Data Reporting ("Ontario Regulation 73/23"). Bill 185 consists of the proposed amendments to the following Acts: ■ An Act to incorporate the Trinity College School ■ The Arts Council Act ■ The Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021 ■ The City of Toronto Act, 2006 ■ The Coroners Act ■ The Development Charges Act, 1997 ■ The Hazel McCallion Act (Peel Dissolution), 2023 ■ The Line Fences Act ■ The Municipal Act, 2001 ■ The Niagara Parks Act ■ The Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998 Report to Economic and Development Services Committee Item: ED-24-54 Meeting Date: May 6, 2024 Page 2 ■ The Planning Act ■ The Poet Laureate of Ontario Act (In Memory of Gord Downie), 2019 ■ The Redeemer Reformed Christian College Act, 1998 ■ The Universite de Hearst Act, 2021 For the purposes of this Report to the Economic and Development Services Committee and Council, staff are only providing comments on the Province's proposed amendments under Bill 185 to: ■ The Development Charge Act, 1997; ■ The Municipal Act, 2001; and, ■ The Planning Act. Additional information on Bill 185 and the proposed amendments to the various Acts can be found at the following link: https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament- 43/session-1 /bill-185. The proposed amendments to the various Acts were posted on the Province's Environmental Registry of Ontario ("E.R.O.") website on April 10, 2024 with comments due by May 10, 2024. The proposed P.P.S. was posted on the E.R.O. website on April 10, 2024 and later updated on April 12, 2024, with comments due by May 12, 2024. In addition, the Province is seeking comments on proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 73/23. These proposed amendments were posted on the E.R.O. website on April 10, 2024 with comments due by May 10, 2024. Staff are seeking Council authority to send City comments on the associated E.R.O. postings in advance of Council's endorsement of the comments in order to meet the May 10, 2024 and May 12, 2024 commenting deadlines. Attachment 1 is a copy of Bill 185, which was introduced into the Ontario Legislature with first reading on April 10, 2024. Owing to the size of the document, it is not attached to this Report but a copy of the proposed Bill 185 can be viewed at the following link: https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-43/session-1 /bill-185. Attachment 2 is a copy of the proposed P.P.S., which was released on April 10, 2024, and later updated on the E.R.O. website on April 12, 2024. Owing to the size of the document, it is not attached to this Report but a copy of the proposed P.P.S. can be viewed at the following link: https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-8462. Attachment 3 outlines the various P.P.S. policies as they were originally proposed by the Province when the initial draft version of the P.P.S. was released on April 6, 2023, in the form of the Proposed Planning Statement, 2023. Attachment 4 is a list of E.R.O. postings under Bill 185, the proposed P.P.S. and Ontario Regulation 73/23 for which staff have prepared comments for Council's approval through this Report. Page 9 Report to Economic and Development Services Committee Item: ED-24-54 Meeting Date: May 6, 2024 Page 3 Attachment 5 presents staff comments on Bill 185 and the proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 73/23. Attachment 6 presents staff comments on the proposed P.P.S. 2.0 Recommendation That the Economic and Development Services Committee recommend to City Council: 1. That Report ED-24-54 dated May 1, 2024, including Attachments 5 and 6, be endorsed as the City's comments on the Province's proposed amendments to certain Acts under Bill 185, "Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024" as well as the proposed Provincial Planning Statement and Ontario Regulation 73/23: Municipal Planning Data Reporting. 2. That Economic and Development Services staff be authorized to submit the comments contained in Report ED-24-54 dated May 1, 2024 related to Bill 185, "Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024", the proposed Provincial Planning Statement and the proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 73/23: Municipal Planning Data Reporting in response to the associated proposals posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario website. 3. That staff be authorized to forward a copy of Report ED-24-54 dated May 1, 2024 and the related Council resolution to the Region of Durham, Durham area municipalities, and Durham area M.P.P.s. 3.0 Executive Summary Not applicable. 4.0 Input From Other Sources The following have been consulted in the preparation of this Report: ■ Chief Administrative Officer ■ Commissioner, Corporate and Finance Services ■ City Solicitor 5.0 Analysis 5.1 Overview of Bill 185, Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024 On April 10, 2024, the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction released a bulletin on the E.R.O. website entitled "Bill 185, the Proposed Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024.' The bulletin can be viewed at the following link: https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-8492. On April 10, 2024, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing also released a bulletin on the E.R.O. website entitled "Bill 185, the Proposed Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Page 10 Report to Economic and Development Services Committee Item: ED-24-54 Meeting Date: May 6, 2024 Page 4 Act, 2024 — Housing Initiatives". This bulletin provides measures related to housing. The bulletin can be viewed at the following link: https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-8365. Bill 185, as it relates to housing initiatives, is proposing a suite of legislative, regulatory and policy initiatives. This includes initiatives to: ■ build homes cheaper and faster; ■ prioritize infrastructure for housing projects that are ready to go; ■ improve consultation processes and provide greater certainty once a decision is made; and, ■ build more types of homes for more people. 5.2 Proposed Amendments Resulting from Bill 185, Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024 The following subsections outline the proposed changes to the Planning Act, Development Charge Act, 1997 and Municipal Act, 2001 resulting from Bill 185, as well as the proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 73/23. 5.2.1 Proposed Amendments to the Planning Act The proposed amendments to the Planning Act under Schedule 12 of Bill 185, if passed, would, among other matters, address the following: ■ Removal of Planning Responsibilities from Upper Tier Municipalities: o The upper tier Regional municipalities of Halton, Peel and York will no longer have planning responsibilities as of July 1, 2024. o The dates for the Regional municipalities of Simcoe, Durham, Niagara and Waterloo to no longer have planning responsibilities have not yet been set, and will be released at a later date. ■ Elimination of Minimum Parking Requirements in Major Transit Station Areas and Areas Surrounding Higher Order Transit Stations and Stops: o The Planning Act would be amended to prohibit minimum parking requirements in protected major transit station areas, and areas delineated in an official plan surrounding existing and planned higher order transit stations and stops, within which areas the official plan policies identify the minimum number of residents and jobs planned to be accommodated, in accordance with a provincial plan or policy statement. ■ Limitations on Third Party Appeals to the Ontario Land Tribunal: o Third party appeals of official plans, official plan amendments, zoning by-laws and zoning by-law amendments will be limited to key participants, including applicants, Page 11 Report to Economic and Development Services Committee Item: ED-24-54 Meeting Date: May 6, 2024 Page 5 the minister, public bodies and specified persons (e.g. utility companies). Third party appeals filed prior to Bill 185 coming into force by anyone not considered a key participant, and where the hearing has not started, will be dismissed. ■ Voluntary Pre -consultation: o Pre -application consultations with municipalities will be voluntary and not mandatory. o Applicants can bring a motion to the Ontario Land Tribunal ("Tribunal") at any time during pre -consultation for a determination as to whether the requirements for a complete application are reasonable, or have been met. ■ Settlement Area Boundary Expansions: o An applicant will be able to appeal a municipality's decision on a privately requested official plan or zoning by-law amendment that would change the boundary of an `area of settlement', outside of the Greenbelt Area. ■ Revocation of Fee Refund Provisions: o The fee refund provisions put in place by Bill 109, More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022 are proposed to be revoked. ■ Minister Zoning Orders/Community Infrastructure Housing Accelerators: o The Province is proposing to put in place a new framework for requesting a Minister's Zoning Order including criteria that will consider whether a ministerial zoning order delivers on provincial priorities and whether it is supported by a municipal council or a mayor with strong mayor powers. The requirements also include demonstrating why the normal municipal process cannot be used, as well as information on Indigenous engagement and public consultation. o The community infrastructure housing accelerator process introduced under Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 is proposed to be repealed. ■ Reducing Barriers to Building Additional Residential Units: o The Province is proposing an enhanced regulation -making authority to help create additional residential units such as "garden, laneway or basement suites", by eliminating barriers including maximum lot coverage and limits on bedrooms allowed per lot. ■ "Use it or lose it" Provisions: o Developments with approved site plans which do not pull permits within a specified period of time can have their approvals withdrawn. o Draft plans of subdivision will have mandatory lapsing provisions with the time frames to be set by regulation. Page 12 Report to Economic and Development Services Committee Item: ED-24-54 Meeting Date: May 6, 2024 Page 6 o Draft plans of subdivision that were approved before March 27, 1995 will lapse if not registered within three years of Bill 185 passing. ■ Exempt Universities from the Planning Act: o Publicly -assisted universities will be exempt from the Planning Act and planning provisions for university -led student housing projects on- and off -campus. ■ Fast -Tracking Priority Government Projects: o The Province is exploring options to get shovels in the ground faster for priority government projects by consulting on a new expedited approval process for community service facilities (e.g. schools, long-term care homes and hospitals). The Province is proposing to amend the Planning Act to provide the regulation - making authority to exempt community service facilities from any or all provisions of the Planning Act, and prescribe any requirements that a community service facility must meet. ■ Public Notices: o Changes are proposed to the regulations that govern how notices are given by a municipality to reflect current practices of most municipalities. This includes changes to enable municipalities to give notice of a proposed new/amending by-law or passage of a by-law on a municipal website, if local papers are not available. Attachment 5 provides staff comments on the proposed amendments to the Planning Act under Bill 185. 5.2.2 Proposed Amendments to the Development Charges Act, 1997 The proposed amendments to the Development Charges Act, 1997 under Schedule 6 of Bill 185, if passed, would, among other matters, address the following: ■ Development Charges: o The five-year phase in of increased development charge rates introduced under Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 is proposed to be repealed. This would apply to development charge by-laws passed on and after January 1, 2022. o The cost of development charge background studies can again be included as a capital cost when calculating the charge. o The process for extending development charge by-laws is being streamlined. o The current two year time limit on development charges being frozen is proposed to be reduced to 18 months after approval of the relevant application, to give homebuilders an incentive to obtain a building permit earlier and get shovels in the ground faster. Page 13 Report to Economic and Development Services Committee Item: ED-24-54 Meeting Date: May 6, 2024 Page 7 ■ Public Notices: o The public notice amendments proposed under the Planning Act would also apply to the Development Charges Act, 1997. Attachment 5 provides staff comments on the proposed amendments to the Development Charges Act, 1997 under Bill 185. 5.2.3 Proposed Amendments to the Municipal Act, 2001 The proposed amendments to the Municipal Act, 2001 under Schedule 9 of Bill 185, if passed, would, among other matters, address the following: ■ Water Supply and Sewage Capacity: o Municipalities will be given the authority to enact by-laws under the Municipal Act to track water supply and sewage capacity, and to set criteria for when an approved development can have their allocation withdrawn. Attachment 5 provides staff comments on the proposed amendments to the Municipal Act, 2001 under Bill 185. 5.2.4 Proposed Amendments to Ontario Regulation 73/23 The proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 73/23, if passed, would, among other matters, address the following: ■ Expand the List of Municipalities Required to Report on Planning Matters: o Schedule 1 of Ontario Regulation 73/23 would be amended to include twenty-one additional municipalities who would be required to report information on planning matters to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing ("M.M.A.H."). Staff note that the City of Oshawa is already listed as a municipality required to report information on planning matters to M.M.A.H. ■ Datapoints and Frequency of Reporting: o Schedules 2 and 3 of Ontario Regulation 73/23 would be amended with a goal to improve the quality of information being collected by enabling municipalities to report on the status of various planning applications more accurately. Attachment 5 provides staff comments on the proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 73/23. 5.3 Overview of Proposed Provincial Planning Statement In 2022, the Provincial government undertook a review on approaches for leveraging the housing supportive policies of both the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 and A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2019 (the "Growth Plan") through a streamlined province -wide framework. Page 14 Report to Economic and Development Services Committee Item: ED-24-54 Meeting Date: May 6, 2024 Page 8 As directed by Council on November 21, 2022, pursuant to its consideration of Report CNCL-22-78 dated November 16, 2022, staff submitted comments to the Province on the Province's proposed review of the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 and the Growth Plan. On April 6, 2023, the Provincial government released a new proposed Provincial Planning Statement, 2023 which combined the elements of the Growth Plan and the existing Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 into a single new land use policy document. As directed by Council on May 29, 2023, the City submitted comments to the Province on the proposed Provincial Planning Statement, 2023 pursuant to Report ED-23-112 dated May 3, 2023. The Province has now introduced an updated P.P.S. in response to feedback received through the 2023 consultation. 5.3.1 Proposed Changes to the Proposed Provincial Planning Statement The purpose of the proposed P.P.S. is to combine the elements of the Growth Plan and the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 into a new land use policy document. Through the proposed P.P.S., the Provincial government is proposing policies grouped under five pillars. The following five pillars mirror the five pillars that were first introduced in the proposed Provincial Planning Statement, 2023: ■ Generate increased housing supply ■ Make land available for development ■ Provide infrastructure to support development ■ Balance housing with resources ■ Implementation In the event the proposed P.P.S. is adopted, the Provincial government would consequentially revoke the existing Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 and the Growth Plan as well as amend regulations under the Places to Grow Act, 2005. In addition, the Provincial government is proposing an administrative amendment to the Greenbelt Plan in order that the policies in the Greenbelt Plan are maintained should the existing Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 and the Growth Plan be revoked. The following subsections provide additional information pertaining to the five pillars and identify those proposed policies that have been updated, those that have remained unchanged and those that are new with respect to the initial draft version of the Provincial Planning Statement, 2023 that was released for consultation on April 6, 2023. For comparison purposes, Attachment 3 outlines the various policies under the five pillars as they were originally proposed by the Province in the initial draft of the Provincial Planning Statement, 2023. Staff note that the various bullets identifying the purpose and effect of the proposed policies under the various pillars of the P.P.S. replicate the exact language used by the Province in the current E.R.O. posting (i.e., Notice 019-8462). Page 15 Report to Economic and Development Services Committee Item: ED-24-54 Meeting Date: May 6, 2024 Page 9 5.3.2 Pillar 1: Generate Increased Housing Supply The first pillar with respect to which the Provincial government is proposing policies under the proposed P.P.S. is to generate an increased housing supply. The proposed policies would: ■ Require municipalities to provide a range and mix of housing options with an expanded definition to include multi -unit types (laneway, garden suites, low and mid -rise apartments) and typologies (affordable, multi -generational, seniors, student housing) [Updated]. ■ Require municipalities to support general intensification (e.g., through the redevelopment of plazas and shopping malls for mixed -use residential development) [Updated], and encourage municipalities to establish and implement minimum targets for intensification in built-up areas [New]. ■ Identify large and fast-growing municipalities and encourage them to plan for 50 people and jobs per hectare in designated growth areas [Updated]. ■ Encourage municipalities to establish phasing strategies to align growth with infrastructure needs in designated growth areas [New]. ■ Direct municipalities to meet minimum density targets for all major transit station areas with encouragement to promote supportive land uses and built forms, including affordable, accessible, and equitable housing [Updated]. ■ Require municipalities to plan for intensification on lands that are adjacent to existing and planned frequent transit corridors [New]. ■ Encourage all municipalities to focus growth and development in strategic growth areas to achieve higher density outcomes [Updated]. o Remove the requirement for large and fast-growing municipalities to identify and set out density targets [Updated]. o Remove direction for planning for urban growth centres, with simplified direction to plan for downtowns as strategic growth areas [Updated]. o Require municipalities to collaborate with housing service managers to ensure land use policies and housing policies are aligned, including addressing homelessness and facilitating development of a full range of housing options and affordability levels to meet local needs [Unchanged]. ■ Require municipalities to establish local targets for affordable housing [Updated] based on reinstated definitions for affordable housing and low and moderate income households [Updated]. ■ Require municipalities to collaborate with publicly -supported post -secondary institutions on early and integrated planning for student housing, and encourage collaboration on the development of student housing strategies [New]. Page 16 Report to Economic and Development Services Committee Item: ED-24-54 Meeting Date: May 6, 2024 Page 10 The proposed actions are also being taken to protect farmland: ■ Not carry forward proposed policies permitting lot creation in prime agricultural areas [Updated]. ■ Require municipalities to direct development to rural settlement areas, and provide more flexibility for municipalities to service residential development in rural settlement areas [Updated]. ■ Permit more housing on farms to support farmers, farm families and farm workers without creating new lots, through enhanced policy and criteria supporting additional residential units [Updated]. 5.3.3 Pillar 2: Make Land Available for Development The second pillar with respect to which the Provincial government is proposing policies under the proposed P.P.S. is to make land available for development. The proposed policies would: ■ Require municipalities to base growth forecasts on Ministry of Finance population projections [New], with transition for municipalities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe to continue to use forecasts issued by the province through Schedule 3 of A Place to Grow until more current forecasts are available to 2051, as informed by guidance provided by the province [Updated]. o Guidance for projecting population and related land requirements may be updated after finalization of the proposed Provincial Planning Statement to reflect final policy direction and considering feedback received [Unchanged]. ■ Require municipalities to plan for a minimum 20-year horizon but not more than 30 years [Updated], maintain a 15-year residential land supply and maintain land with servicing capacity for a 3-year supply of residential units. ■ Provide a simplified and flexible approach for municipalities to undertake settlement area boundary changes at any time, with requirements for municipalities to consider additional criteria related to the need for the expansion to accommodate growth, infrastructure capacity, phasing of growth, achievement of housing objectives, consideration of alternative locations to prime agricultural areas, and impacts on agricultural systems [Updated]. ■ Permit municipalities to identify a new settlement area only where it has been demonstrated that the infrastructure and public service facilities needed to support development are planned or available [New]. ■ Require municipalities to plan for and protect employment areas based on a definition of employment areas that would align with the Planning Act definition of "area of employment" amended through Bill 97 but not yet proclaimed [Unchanged]. Page 17 Report to Economic and Development Services Committee Item: ED-24-54 Meeting Date: May 6, 2024 Page 11 ■ Require municipalities to address transition and land use compatibility between employment areas and sensitive land uses [Updated]. ■ Discontinue provincially significant employment zones issued under A Place to Grow and require municipalities to use the policies in the proposed Provincial Planning Statement to provide protection for employment areas [Unchanged]. ■ Require municipalities to protect airports from land uses that may cause a potential aviation safety hazard [Updated]. ■ Encourage municipalities to preserve employment areas close to goods movement corridors, coordinating across administrative boundaries [Unchanged]. ■ Allow municipalities to consider employment area conversions at any time to support the forms of development and job creation that suit the local context, under the condition that sufficient employment land is available to accommodate employment growth [Updated]. 5.3.4 Pillar 3: Provide Infrastructure to Support Development The third pillar with respect to which the Provincial government is proposing policies under the proposed P.P.S. is to provide infrastructure to support development. The proposed policies would: ■ Require municipalities to plan for water and wastewater infrastructure, and waste management systems, and require large and fast-growing municipalities, and encourage others, to undertake watershed planning [Updated]. ■ Require all municipalities and to consider allocation or potentially reallocation of unused servicing capacity to accommodate projected needs for housing [Updated]. ■ Require municipalities to protect corridors for major infrastructure, such as highways, transit and transmission systems and encourage municipalities to provide opportunities for the development of energy supply and storage to accommodate current and projected needs [Updated]. ■ Require municipalities to integrate land use planning and transportation planning and encourage freight -supportive and transit -supportive development to move goods and people [Unchanged]. ■ Require municipalities and school boards to integrate planning for schools with planning for growth, and promote opportunities to locate schools near parks and open space [Updated]. Page 18 Report to Economic and Development Services Committee Item: ED-24-54 Meeting Date: May 6, 2024 Page 12 5.3.5 Pillar 4: Balance Housing with Resources The fourth pillar with respect to which the Provincial government is proposing policies under the proposed P.P.S. is to balance housing with resources. The proposed policies would: ■ Require municipalities to use an agricultural systems approach [Updated] and to designate specialty crop areas and prime agricultural areas. ■ Require municipalities to maintain minimum separation distances between livestock operations and houses [Unchanged]. ■ Require municipalities in central and southern Ontario to identify natural heritage systems and require municipalities across the province to protect provincially -significant natural heritage features and areas [Unchanged]. ■ Require municipalities to protect water resources and features and require large and fast-growing municipalities [Updated] and encourage others, to undertake watershed planning in collaboration with conservation authorities [Updated]. ■ Require municipalities to conserve cultural and archaeological resources, and promote proactive strategies for conserving built heritage resources [Unchanged]. ■ Require municipalities to direct development outside of hazardous lands and sites in collaboration with conservation authorities [Updated]. ■ Require municipalities to prepare for the impacts of a changing climate through land use planning, develop approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality [Unchanged]. ■ Require municipalities to facilitate access to aggregate resources close to market and to protect minerals, petroleum and mineral aggregate resources [Unchanged]. 5.3.6 Pillar 5: Implementation The fifth pillar with respect to which the Provincial government is proposing policies under the proposed P.P.S. is implementation. The proposed policies would: ■ Align with recent legislative amendments [Unchanged]. ■ Require municipalities to undertake early engagement with Indigenous communities and coordinate with them on land use planning matters to facilitate knowledge -sharing, support consideration of Indigenous interests in land use decision - making and support the identification of potential impacts of decisions on the exercise of Aboriginal or treaty rights [Unchanged]. ■ Affirm that efficient land -use patterns contribute to increased equitable access to housing in strategic growth areas [Updated], employment, and transportation, and encourage municipalities to apply an equity lens on planning matters and engage stakeholders early in the process. Page 19 Report to Economic and Development Services Committee Item: ED-24-54 Meeting Date: May 6, 2024 Page 13 ■ Encourage coordination, particularly on intermunicipal topics [Updated]. Attachment 6 provides staff comments on the proposed P.P.S. 5.4 Next Steps Staff are seeking Council's endorsement of the staff comments contained in Attachments 5 and 6 of this Report as City comments regarding the various E.R.O. postings concerning proposed changes to the various Acts and regulations through Bill 185, the proposed P.P.S., and Ontario Regulation 73/23. As mentioned in Section 1.0 of this Report, staff are seeking Council authority to send City comments on the associated E.R.O. postings in advance of Council's endorsement of the comments in order to meet the May 10, 2024 and May 12, 2024 commenting deadlines. In the event that the comments are not supported by City Council, staff will ask the Province to consider the comments as withdrawn. In the event the proposed P.P.S. and Bill 185 receive royal assent, Economic and Development Services staff would report back to the Economic and Development Services Committee and Council with any necessary amendments to City By-laws to implement the changes, including potential amendments to the City's Zoning By-law and Development Charges By-law. 6.0 Financial Implications There are no financial implications associated with the recommendations in this Report. 7.0 Relationship to the Oshawa Strategic Plan The Recommendations advance the Accountable Leadership goal of the Oshawa Strategic Plan. Tom Goodeve, M.Sc.PI., MCIP, RPP, Director, Planning ice Anthony Ambra, P.Eng., Commissioner, Economic and Development Services Department Page 20 Item: ED-24-54 Attachment 3 Proposed Policies Under the Five Pillars of the Initial Draft of the Provincial Planning Statement, 2023 (Released April 6, 2023) Pillar 1: Generate an Appropriate Housing Supply The first pillar with respect to which the Provincial government is proposing policies under the proposed P.P.S. is to generate an appropriate housing supply. The proposed policies would: ■ Identify large/fast-growing municipalities, with specific directions to plan strategically for growth: o Establish and meet minimum density targets for: major transit station areas, other strategic growth area (e.g., nodes and corridors), urban growth centres (transitioned from the Growth Plan). o Encourage to plan for transit -supportive greenfield density targets. ■ Require municipalities to provide a range and mix of housing options with an expanded definition to include multi -unit types (laneway, garden suites, low and mid -rise apartments) and typologies (multi -generational, student). [Staff comment: It should be noted that the reference to laneway homes and garden suites as examples of multi -unit housing types appears erroneous.] ■ Require all municipalities to implement intensification policies. ■ Provide flexibility for municipalities to allow for more residential development in rural settlements and multi -lot residential development on rural lands, including more servicing flexibility (e.g., leveraging capacity in the private sector servicing). ■ Require municipalities to permit more housing on farms, including residential lot creation subject to criteria, additional residential units and housing for farm workers. ■ Require municipalities to align land use planning policies with housing policies, including addressing homelessness and facilitating development of a full range of housing options and affordability levels to meet local needs. Pillar 2: Make Land Available for Development The second pillar with respect to which the Provincial government is proposing policies under the proposed P.P.S. is to make land available for development. The proposed policies would: ■ Provide flexibility for municipalities to use government or municipally established forecasts (at minimum), with a transition phase for municipalities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Page 1 of 3 Page 21 ■ Require municipalities to plan for a minimum 25-year horizon, maintain a 15-year residential land supply and maintain land with servicing capacity for a 3-year supply of residential units. ■ Provide a simplified and flexible approach for municipalities to undertake settlement area boundary expansions. Municipalities would be allowed to create new Settlement Areas and would not be required to demonstrate the need for expansion. ■ Require municipalities to plan for and protect industrial and manufacturing uses that are unsuitable for mixed use areas, using a more narrowly scoped definition of "area of employment" limited to these uses and preserving large, contiguous areas of land. ■ Encourage municipalities to preserve employment areas close to goods movement corridors, coordinating across administrative boundaries and consider opportunities to densify. [Staff comment: It is uncertain as to whether the three directives contained herein relate collectively to just employment areas, or whether they are three separate directives that do not necessarily relate to one another.] ■ Provide municipalities with greater control over employment area conversions to support the forms of development and job creation that suit the local context. Pillar 3: Provide Infrastructure to Support Development The third pillar with respect to which the Provincial government is proposing policies under the proposed P.P.S. is to provide infrastructure to support development. The proposed policies would: Require municipalities to plan for stormwater management, water and wastewater infrastructure, and waste management systems to accommodate growth. ■ Require municipalities to protect corridors for major infrastructure, such as highways, transit, transmission systems and encourage municipalities to provide opportunities for the development of energy supply to accommodate current and projected needs. [Staff comment: with respect to providing opportunities for the development of "energy supply", it is unclear if this is intended to relate to energy supply facilities and infrastructure.) ■ Require the integration of land use planning and transportation with encouragement for freight -supportive and transit -supportive development to move goods and people. ■ Require municipalities and school boards to integrate planning for schools and growth. Page 2 of 3 Page 22 Pillar 4: Balance Housing with Resources The fourth pillar with respect to which the Provincial government is proposing policies under the proposed P.P.S. is to balance housing with resources. The proposed policies would: ■ Require municipalities to designate specialty crop areas and prime agricultural areas, eliminating the requirement to use the provincially -mapped Agricultural System. ■ Require municipalities to protect specialty crop areas and maintain minimum separation distances between livestock operations and houses, and promote an agricultural systems approach to support the agri-food network. ■ Require municipalities to facilitate access to aggregate resources close to market and to protect minerals, petroleum and mineral aggregate resources. ■ Require municipalities to protect water resources and features and encourage watershed planning. ■ Update the cultural heritage policies to align with Ontario Heritage Act amendments through Bill 108 and Bill 23, with a focus on conserving protected heritage properties. ■ Require municipalities to prepare for the impacts of a changing climate and develop approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. ■ Require municipalities to direct development outside of hazardous lands and sites. Pillar 5: Implementation The fifth pillar with respect to which the Provincial government is proposing policies under the proposed P.P.S. relates to implementation. The proposed policies would: ■ Align with recent legislative amendments. ■ Require municipalities to undertake early engagement with Indigenous communities and coordinate with them on land use planning matters to facilitate knowledge -sharing, support consideration of Indigenous interests in land use decision -making and support the identification of potential impacts of decisions on the exercise of Aboriginal or treaty rights. ■ Affirm that efficient land -use patterns contribute to increased equitable access to housing, employment, parks and transportation, and encourage municipalities to apply an equity lens on planning matters and engage stakeholders early in the process. ■ Encourage coordination, particularly on inter -municipal topics. Page 3 of 3 Page 23 Item: ED-24-54 Attachment 4 Relevant E.R.O. Posting Details under Bill 185, the Proposed P.P.S. and Ontario Regulation 73/23 Legislation/Policy Review E.R.O. Link Commenting Number Deadline Changes to the Development Charges Act, 1997 to 019-8371 https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-8371 May 10, 2024 Enhance Municipalities' Ability to Invest in Housing - Enabling Infrastructure Proposed Changes to Regulations under the Planning 019-8370 https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-8370 May 10, 2024 Act and Development Charges Act, 1997 Relating to the Bill 185: Newspaper Notice Requirements and Consequential Housekeeping Changes Proposed Planning Act, City of Toronto Act, 2006, and 019-8369 https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-8369 May 10, 2024 Municipal Act, 2001 Changes (Schedules 4, 9 and 12 of Bill 185) Proposed Regulatory Changes under the Planning Act 019-8366 https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-8366 May 10, 2024 Relating to the Bill 185: Removing Barriers for Additional Residential Units Review of Proposed Policies for a New Provincial 019-8462 https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-8462 May 12, 2024 Planning Policy Instrument Proposed Amendments to Ontario Regulation 73/23 019-8368 https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-8368 May 10, 2024 Page 1 of 1 Page 24 Item: ED-24-54 Attachment 5 Staff Comments on Bill 185 — Removing Barriers for Additional Residential Units (E.R.O. Posting Number 019-8366) Question (as posed in E.R.O. Posting Number 019-8366) Staff Comments 1. Are there specific zoning by-law barriers, Staff note that the City of Oshawa continues to see an increase in standards or requirements that frustrate the building permits issued for accessory apartments annually. In 2023, development of additional residential units the number of building permits issued for accessory apartments was (e.g., maximum building height, minimum 360 which represents the highest number of accessory apartments lot size, side and rear lot setbacks, lot issued in one year. This number surpasses the previous record of coverage, maximum number of bedrooms 229 accessory apartments units set in 2022. permitted per lot, and angular plane Staff have no additional comments as it relates to zoning by-law requirements, etc.)? barriers that frustrate the development of additional rental units. However, given the importance of maintaining an appropriate minimum amount of landscaped open space to support healthy tree growth (essential to mitigating the urban heat island effect) and permeable surface area for water absorption, regulations to this effect should not be considered as barriers. 2. Are there any other changes that would Staff support the development of a wide range of housing options for help support development of additional residents, which is important for a healthy housing system. A full residential units? range and mix of housing, including affordable housing, is necessary to accommodate a range of incomes and household sizes. The promotion of the "missing middle" and "gentle density" forms of residential development (including duplexes, triplexes, accessory detached units and accessory apartments) should be focused on. ■ Many of the above noted types of units can provide more housing options for seniors or persons needing semi -independence, including the potential to turn them into accessible units. Moreover, they can be provided by regular homeowners and small scale developers in potentially large numbers. Financial support to provide an incentive to this sector to provide additional units should be considered. Page 1 of 17 Page 25 Staff Comments on Bill 185 - Amendments to Ontario Regulation 73/23 (E.R.O. Posting Number 019-8368) Description Staff Comments 1. Expanding the List of Municipalities Staff note that under Ontario Regulation 73/23, the City is already - Under Bill 185, Schedule 1 of Ontario required to report information on planning matters to the Ministry on a Regulation 73/23 would be amended to quarterly and annual basis. Specifically, the City is required to report include twenty one additional on official plan amendment applications, zoning by-law amendments, municipalities with provincially- plans of condominium, plans of subdivision, site plan applications, assigned housing targets who would be land severances, minor variances, community infrastructure and required to report information on housing accelerator orders and minister's zoning orders. planning matters to the Ministry on a quarterly and annual basis. 2. Datapoints and Frequency of Reporting ■ Staff note that this proposed amendment to Schedules 2 and 3 of - Under Bill 185, Schedules 2 and 3 of Ontario Regulation 73/23 will require additional staff time and Ontario Regulation 73/23 would be resources. amended with the goal to improve the ■ Staff note that one of the proposed amendments is to require quality of information being collected by municipalities to provide a summary table for each planning enabling municipalities to report on the application type with the existing quarterly reports. The summary status of various planning applications table would be posted publically to the municipality's webpage and more accurately. Some of the would include the following components: proposed amendments include a A) The total number of applications reported. requirement to prepare a summary table, which outlines key statistics for B) The total number of submissions. each quarterly report. Municipalities C) The total number of municipal decisions. would also be required to publish this summary to their municipal webpage - The percentage of municipal decisions that took longer than and update the summary table each legislated timelines (where applicable). quarter beginning October 1, 2024. - The total number of approved housing units for applications where the municipality approved or granted the application. D) The number of housing units proposed across all planning applications submitted during the respective quarter. Page 2 of 17 Page 26 Description Staff Comments E) The number of applications that were for privately initiated settlement area boundary expansions. The information that the Province is asking the municipality to report on and post on the municipal website appears to be an indication solely of the efficacy of the municipal decision -making process. It does not appear to provide an indication of the quality of the applications being submitted or the time the municipality is relying on the developer to provide information and/or respond to comments. The information that the Province is requesting does not appear to provide a complete picture. Accordingly, it is recommended that if the City is required to provide information about the total number of applications that took longer than legislated, the City should also include information about the reason the application took that long and the amount of time the application may have been dormant due to the applicant's inaction or lack of attention to the application. Staff Comments on Bill 185 - Amendments to the Planning Act and the Municipal Act, 2001 (E.R.O. Posting Number 019- 8369) Description Staff Comments 1. Reduce Parking Minimums ■ Staff note that this proposed amendment would restrict a municipal - Under Bill 185, a zoning by-law may council from approving official plans or zoning by-laws requiring not require an owner or occupant of a parking in a P.M.T.S.A., and in areas surrounding higher -order transit building or structure to provide and where minimum densities are prescribed. maintain parking facilities on land that ■ The Region of Durham has two proposed P.M.T.S.A.s in the City of is located within: Oshawa that are awaiting approval from the Province. These consist a) a Protected Major Transit Station of the Central Oshawa P.M.T.S.A. and the Thornton's Corners Area ("P.M.T.S.A."); P.M.T.S.A. b) an area delineated in the official ' Staff note that this proposed amendment still allows the developer to plan of the municipality surrounding include parking in their development based on estimated market and including an existing or planned demand, as estimated by the developer. For example, a 100 unit Page 3 of 17 Page 27 Description Staff Comments higher order transit station or stop, condominium apartment building currently requires 145 parking within which area the official plan spaces for residents per the City's Zoning By-law 60-94. However, if policies identify the minimum the developer estimates that only half of the purchasers will demand number of residents and jobs, one parking space (and the rest content to do without), they could collectively, per hectare that are decide to only build 50 parking spaces instead of the currently planned to be accommodated, but required 145 parking spaces. only if those policies are required to The Province has stated that the cost of constructing underground be included in the official plan to parking costs upward of $100,000 per unit, which is typically passed conform with a provincial plan; and, on to the purchaser. By not being required to build the extra c) any other area prescribed. 95 parking spaces, the developer would save approximately $9.5 million. Conversely, if a developer has to build a set minimum amount of parking, they will have an incentive to have to sell as many parking spaces as possible, including potentially discounting the price if parking spaces are not being purchased by homebuyers. This change could potentially benefit local communities by having fewer vehicles than would otherwise been the case had the developer been required to build a set minimum number of required parking. Alternatively, this change could lead to parking overflows into the surrounding neighbourhood in the event the residents of a particular development have more cars than can be accommodated by the development. This scenario presumably has a greater possibility of occurring should a development proceed in advance of the opening of a planned new transit station or higher order transit route. For this reason, staff recommend that in the absence of such facilities (which may be planned but not yet exist), an interim minimum amount of parking may be required by a municipality, to be provided in such a manner that it could appropriately be converted to accommodate residential or non-residential uses once the transit facilities are in operation. ■ Staff note that if this proposed amendment is passed, all existing properties in a P.M.T.S.A. or near a higher order transit station/stop will no longer need to provide parking even if they are already Page 4 of 17 Page 28 Description Staff Comments providing parking. This may mean that some existing buildings may add residential units and non-residential floor space within the permissions of the existing zoning by-law (e.g. maximum height, maximum density, minimum setbacks, etc.). This could result in more commercial activity and new residential units in the short term in P.M.T.S.A.s and/or near higher order transit routes. ■ Staff also note that if this proposed amendment is passed, property owners of single detached dwellings, semi-detached dwellings and rowhouses within P.M.T.S.A.s or near higher order transit routes may add second and third units to their properties without adding additional parking spaces. This may result in single detached dwellings, semi- detached dwellings and rowhouses being entrenched, and may make property consolidation more difficult and costly, therefore stifling redevelopment opportunities. Staff recommend that this proposed amendment should not apply to single detached dwellings, semi- detached dwellings and rowhouses. ■ As previously mentioned, this proposed amendment would allow homebuyers and developers to decide on the number of parking spaces in new residential development in P.M.T.S.A.s as well as areas surrounding higher -order transit where minimum densities are prescribed based on market demands. However, market demands do not take into account visitor parking demand, and neither a homebuyer nor a developer would be in a position to determine the number of visitor parking spaces that are needed. In practice, a developer may choose to build as few as zero visitor parking spaces, since they are not able to recoup the cost directly from homebuyers. The lack of visitor parking spaces is likely to result in illegal parking on neighbouring properties or on streets. In theory, if someone purchases a unit and only purchases one parking space, they are very unlikely to move in with two vehicles without having a formal arrangement already in place to account for the second vehicle Page 5 of 17 Page 29 Description Staff Comments (e.g. renting a space from a resident who has one parking space but no vehicles). However, short term visitors are more likely to park vehicles in places they are not supposed to if there is no on -site visitor parking. Staff recommend that this proposed amendment should continue to allow municipalities to have the option to have zoning by- laws in place to dictate minimum visitor parking rates. This does not mean that every municipality will impose a minimum visitor parking rate, but it would allow the municipality the option to impose the requirement. ■ Staff are seeking clarity on what is meant by "planned" in "an area delineated in the official plan of the municipality surrounding and including an existing or planned higher order transit station or stop, within which area the official plan policies identify the minimum number of residents and jobs, collectively, per hectare that are planned to be accommodated, but only if those policies are required to be included in the official plan to conform with a provincial plan." Does "planned" refer to a potential station or stop in a transportation master plan or official plan, or does that station/stop need to be under construction already? A prescriptive description needs to be provided for what triggers that parking exemption to avoid further confusion. 2. Regulations for Additional Residential Units ■ Staff note that under subsection 35.1(2) of the Planning Act, the - Under Bill 185, the Minister would have Minister can make regulations establishing requirements and regulation -making authority to remove standards for second and third residential units in single detached zoning barriers (i.e. maximum lot dwellings, semi-detached dwellings and rowhouses and for residential coverage, etc.) to building small multi- units in a building or structure ancillary to such a house. unit residential buildings. This proposed amendment would authorize regulations establishing requirements and standards with respect to any additional residential unit in a single detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling, a rowhouse, a residential unit in a building or structure ancillary to such aforementioned dwelling units, a parcel of land where such residential units are located or a building or structure within which such Page 6 of 17 Page 30 Description Staff Comments residential units are located. This proposed amendment, if passed, would widen the scope of the Minister's ability to regulate not only a second or third residential unit but any additional residential unit in a house, as well as the land on which such additional residential units are located and the building or structure within which such additional residential units are located. ■ Staff have concerns with this proposed amendment. This proposed amendment could potentially remove all zoning requirements for additional dwellings units. The development of an additional dwelling unit and the site context are important. For example, the context of the dimensions of a side yard and rear yard is important in siting an accessory building for any use. Equally important, maintaining an appropriate minimum amount of landscaped open space to support healthy tree growth (essential to mitigating the urban heat island effect) and permeable surface area for water absorption is critical to mitigate the effects of climate change, including extreme heat and stormwater management during excessive rainfall events. ■ Staff recommend that the Province stipulate new regulations that outline where additional dwelling units should be prohibited. Specifically, additional dwelling units should be prohibited in hazard lands or lands within a certain distance of rail corridors, 400-series highways and pipelines. 3. Community Infrastructure and Housing ■ Staff note that Bill 109, More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022, brought Accelerator forward the community infrastructure and housing accelerator tool. - Under Bill 185, the community The community infrastructure and housing accelerator tool enables infrastructure and housing accelerator local municipalities to request a community infrastructure and housing tool from the Planning Act would be accelerator in order to regulate the use of land and the location, use, repealed which would avoid height, size and spacing of buildings and structures to permit certain unnecessary duplication with a revised types of development. process for ministerial zoning orders. ■ Staff agree with this proposed amendment to repeal the community Transition rules would be provided to infrastructure and housing accelerator tool from the Planning Act as it Page 7 of 17 Page 31 Description Staff Comments permit community infrastructure and is made redundant by also having a ministerial zoning order process in housing accelerator permits where place. orders have been made to date to continue functioning. 4. "Use It or Lose It" Tool Staff note that the proposed amendment is in response to a municipal - Under Bill 185, a new municipal concern where there are a number of developments that are currently servicing management tool would be approved but not moving forward. To address this concern, this created to authorize municipalities to proposed amendment looks at expanding the municipality's authority adopt policies by by-law to formalize to attach lapsing provisions to approved site plans and draft plans of "be how water and sewage servicing of an subdivisions. The prescribed time period shall not less than" or "exceed "may approved development is managed to such" a time period as be applicable to the enable servicing capacity to be development" or be less than three years. allocated/reallocated to other projects if Staff note that the City already imposes expiration dates on draft plans the approved development has not of condominiums and site plan approvals. Draft plans of condominium proceeded after a given timeline and expire either three or five years based on whether it is a standard the servicing is needed elsewhere. versus a common element condominium. Site plan approvals currently expire after two years. Staff note that the expiry of site plan approvals would potentially need to increase from two years to three years to conform to this proposed amendment. ■ Staff note that the City does not currently impose expiration dates on draft plans of subdivision approvals. This would need to be amended to conform to the proposed amendment. 5. Third Party Appeals Staff note that the proposed amendment removes the appeal rights for - Under Bill 185, third party appeals for residents and community groups for official plans, official plan official plans, official plan amendments, amendments, zoning by-laws and zoning by-law amendments. zoning by-laws and zoning by-law Ultimately, members of the public would not be allowed to appeal a amendments would be limited to the development that they oppose. This could lead to greater public applicant, specified persons and public pressure on elected officials to make decisions that do not necessarily bodies who made written or oral reflect the tenets of good planning, and such decisions would more submissions. A specified person likely be appealed by an Applicant. In such instances, there is potential for municipal staff to not be in a position to support council's Page 8 of 17 Page 32 Description Staff Comments means a list of entities that includes decision, resulting in the need to engage external professional utilities, pipeline and rail operators. witnesses at extra cost to the municipality and the taxpayer. However, limiting appeals would reduce staff's time spent on Ontario Land Tribunal matters (e.g., reporting to Council on direction, preparing and attending appeal hearings, etc.), freeing up staff's time to work on other planning matters. On the other hand, in the short term, it would require staff time to update planning documents and templates to change the references regarding who can appeal planning decisions. 6. Fee Refund Provisions Staff support this amendment. The fee refund provisions, introduced - Under Bill 185, the fee refund by Bill 109, More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022, requires provisions from the Planning Act for municipalities to refund the planning application fee for certain types of zoning by-law amendments and site applications if the application (or combination of applications, such as plan control applications would be a joint official plan amendment and zoning by-law amendment) is not removed. approved or denied within a specified timeframe of the municipality's receipt of a complete application. The fee refund provision assumes that any delays in the approval of an application under the Planning Act are as a result of delays caused by the approval authority. It does not take into consideration the fact that a large proportion of applications are delayed for reasons that are outside of the approval authority's control. It should be noted that to date, the City has not had to issue any refunds under the fee refund provisions. The City received one application to amend the zoning by-law for 620 and 646 Taunton Road West and the application was approved in less than ninety days of submission and therefore a refund was not required. In addition, the City has received only four applications for site plan approval and all applications received conditional site plan approval within sixty days of submission and therefore refunds were not required. Page 9 of 17 Page 33 Description Staff Comments 7. Municipal Pre -Application Process Staff have concerns with this proposed amendment as it relates to the - Under Bill 185, pre -application pre -application consultation being voluntary. Staff note that under the "may, consultation will be voluntary at the Planning Act, it currently states that a municipality by by-law, discretion of the applicant. require applicants to consult with the municipality" before submitting certain applications. It does not prescribe any limitations or - Under Bill 185, an applicant will be able parameters for what "consult with the municipality" means. This has to challenge complete application led many municipalities to pass by-laws that prescribe how requirements to the Ontario Land consultation must take place, particularly when the Bill 109, More Tribunal at any time. Homes for Everyone Act, 2022 application fee refund provisions came into effect in 2023. Municipalities have enacted by-laws with respect to consultation in order to create clarity and understanding for all parties involved in the pre -consultation process, including applicants and outside agencies. Absent of such by-laws, instances have arisen leading to appeals to the Ontario Land Tribunal over whether an applicant had "consulted" with the municipality, and whether a formal application can be determined to be "complete" upon submission if the applicant did not "consult" with the municipality in the manner and to the extent that would otherwise be typically outlined in a municipal pre - consultation by-law. ■ This proposed amendment would amend the wording to indicate that the municipality "shall permit applicants to consult with the municipality" before submitting an application. This makes pre - consultation voluntary at the discretion of the applicant and removes altogether the ability for a municipality to require it. However, it does not help either the municipality or the applicant to understand what is meant by consultation. It does not stipulate how much consultation the municipality can expect the applicant to undertake in advance of the submission of a formal application. This may lead to confusion between applicants and municipalities regarding how much an applicant should be expected to consult. ■ Staff note that pre -consultation is valuable to both the applicant and the municipality to identify opportunities, challenges and issues prior to Page 10 of 17 Page 34 Description Staff Comments an applicant submitting an application, in many cases before even fully forming a development proposal. Prior to Bill 109, More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022, municipal decisions on development applications were at times prolonged because applicants did not properly consult with the municipality or agencies on important matters such as road widening requirements, driveway access, airport height restrictions, heritage matters, local contextual knowledge, etc. This resulted in these matters being addressed subsequent to an application being submitted, adding to processing times and additional revisions to plans and documents that might otherwise have been avoided. ■ Staff recommend that the Province maintain the ability for a municipality to adopt a by-law requiring applicants to consult with the municipality, and prescribe the scope of pre -consultation. This would create a consistent understanding for all applicants and municipalities on the intent of the legislation and the parameters which each party must adhere to. 8. Settlement Area Boundary Expansions ■ Staff note that the Planning Act states that an applicant cannot appeal - Under Bill 185, an applicant will be able an official plan amendment or a zoning by-law amendment application `area to appeal a municipality's refusal or that would change the boundary of an of settlement'. This failure to make a decision on a proposed amendment would allow an applicant to appeal a privately requested official plan or municipality's refusal or failure to make a decision on a settlement zoning by-law amendment that would area boundary expansion request given the lands are outside of the change the boundary of an `area of Greenbelt Area. settlement', outside of the Greenbelt ■ Staff note that this proposed amendment is paired with another Area. proposed amended in the proposed P.P.S. where there are new criteria for the assessment of proposals for settlement area boundary expansion requests. ■ Staff note that there is no limitation on the ability of landowners to apply for a settlement area boundary expansion. Nor are there size limitations for boundary expansion proposals. Staff have concerns with this owing to the fact that the tests for settlement area boundary Page 11 of 17 Page 35 Description Staff Comments expansions are not as stringent as they currently are under the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020. A municipality is no longer required to demonstrate that sufficient opportunities to accommodate growth are not available. This could hinder efforts to promote intensification within a municipality's Built Boundary and optimize the use of existing infrastructure, and instead spur Greenfield development where services may potentially need to be extended. 9. Facilitating Standardized Housing Designs Staff request additional clarity to understand what the criteria would be - Under Bill 185, a regulation -making to facilitate planning approvals for standardized housing. authority would be created that would establish criteria to facilitate planning approvals for standardized housing. This would only apply on certain specified lands (i.e. minimum lot size, such as urban residential lands with full municipal servicing outside of the Greenbelt Area). 10. Upper -Tier Planning Responsibilities Staff note that the City of Oshawa already has delegated authority on - Under Bill 185, the effective date of the a number of planning matters in which Regional approval is not removal of planning responsibilities required (e.g. subdivisions, rezoning, condominium and part -lot from upper -tier governments including control). Staff also note that Durham Region has already Peel Region, Halton Region and York downloaded consent applications to the City effective 2024. Region will be July 1, 2024. However, it has been standard practice to consult with the Region on - For Waterloo Region, Durham Region matters that do not require Regional approval. If Regional approval and Niagara Regions and Simcoe was no longer required for official plans and official plan Country, the date to remove planning amendments, staff would still need to continue the practice of announced responsibilities will be announced at a consulting with the Region on growth -related matters, as these are later date but by the end of intrinsically linked to servicing, which is a Regional responsibility and needs to be coordinated on a cross -jurisdictional basis. Page 12 of 17 Page 36 Description Staff Comments 11. Expedited Approval Process for Staff request additional clarity to understand what the expedited Community Service Facility Projects approval process for community service facility projects would look - Under Bill 185, it is proposed that a like. regulation -making authority be created to enable a streamlined approvals pathway for prescribed class(es) of `community service facility' projects (e.g. public schools, hospitals and long- term care facilities) that support the creation of complete communities. 12. Exempt Universities from the Planning Act Staff note that exempting publically-assisted universities from the - Under Bill 185, it is proposed that Planning Act and planning provisions for university -led student publicly -assisted universities be housing projects on and off campus may be problematic. If exempted from the Planning Act and universities start developing student housing projects in designated planning provisions for university -led industrial areas, it will lead to diminished industrial and business park student housing projects on- and off- areas. For example, Ontario Tech has lands located in the Northwood campus. Business Park. These lands should not be permitted to have student housing projects on them. ■ Staff note that this proposed legislation should only apply to allow colleges and universities to construct student housing projects on- and off -campus in conformity with the local official plan and on lands where housing is otherwise permitted by the local official plan. Staff Comments on Bill 185 - Newspaper Notice Requirements (E.R.O. Posting Number 019-8370) Description Staff Comments 1. Modernizing Public Notice Requirements ■ Staff have no objections to the proposed regulatory changes for public - Under Bill 185, regulatory changes are notice requirements. proposed that would modernize public ■ Effective November 20, 2023, the City adopted a public notice policy notice requirements under the Planning (GOV-23-02) to meet the requirements under Section 270(1)(4) of the Act and Development Charges Act, Municipal Act, 2011 which requires a municipality to adopt a policy Page 13 of 17 Page 37 Description Staff Comments 1997 regarding newspaper notices. with respect to the circumstances in which the municipality shall Municipalities would be able to give provide notice to the public and if notice is to be provided, the form, notice on a municipal website, if a local manner and times notice shall be given. newspaper is not available. Statutory notices are already posted on the `Public Notices' page of the City's website for at least the two -week period immediately preceding the Council or Committee meeting (and longer, if required by statute) at which the matter will be considered and an opportunity is provided for members of the public to speak or to submit correspondence regarding the matter. 2. Third Party Appeals ■ Please refer to item number five under staff Comments on Bill 185 - Under Bill 185, third party appeals for (E.R.O. Posting Number 019-8369) for comments regarding third party official plan, official plan amendments, appeals. zoning by-laws and zoning by-law ■ Staff have no additional comments as it relates to the consequential amendments would be limited to amendments that would be required to the Planning Act and the specified persons and public bodies Development Charges Act, 1997. who made written or oral submissions. A specified person means a list of entities that includes utilities, pipeline and rail operators. - As a result of this proposed change, consequential amendments would be required under the Planning Act and Development Charges Act, 1997. Page 14 of 17 Page 38 Staff Comments on Bill 185 - Amendments to Development Charges Act, 1997 (E.R.O. Posting Number 019-8371) Description Staff Comments 1. Repeal the Mandatory five-year Phase -in of Staff note that Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, previously Development Charge Rates amended the Development Charges Act, 1997 to require a reduction - Under Bill 185, the five-year phase -in in the maximum development charge that could be imposed in the first of development charge rates would be four years that new development charge by-laws were in effect. The eliminated and transition rules would proposed amendment would remove the phase -in requirements and apply: propose transition rules for development charge by-laws. For Development Charge By-laws Staff note that the City's development charge by-law expires in 2024 passed on or after January 1, 2022 but and that a review is underway of the development charge background before November 28, 2022: study and the drafting of a new development charge by-law. o The reduced "phase -in rates" Frequent revisions of the Development Charges Act, 1997 have continue to apply to charges created uncertainty regarding planning direction and require imposed on or after implementing bodies to continually revise their workplace processes November 28, 2022, and before the for effective local implementation. day that Bill 185 receives royal As previously mentioned, staff recommend that the Province commit assent. to policy certainty for a period of time to allow municipalities to focus For Development Charge By-laws on implementation with a reasonable level of certainty that further passed after November 28, 2022: substantial changes will not be advanced in the short term. o There are no specific transition Staff support the proposed amendment as it will mean the City will no provisions related to the "phase in" longer be required to reduce development charges in the first four for a development charge by-law years. passed after November 28, 2022. o Bill 185 introduces new subsection 19(1.3), which allows a municipality to amend a DC By-law to increase a development charge imposed during the first four years that the DC By-law was in force to the amount that could have been Page 15 of 17 Page 39 Description Staff Comments charged if the mandatory "phase in" had never been in effect. o The above -described increase must be passed within six months after Bill 185 receives royal assent and is currently not proposed to be subject to the normal requirements associated with the passage of a DC By-law (i.e., no background study, public notice or appeals to the Ontario Land Tribunal). 2. Reinstate Studies as an Eligible Capital Staff note that Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, previously Cost for Development Charges amended the Development Charges Act, 1997 to exclude certain - Under Bill 185, the cost of studies study costs, including the cost of undertaking a development charge would be reinstated as an eligible background study, from the list of eligible capital costs that development charge cost. municipalities could recover through development charges. ■ Staff support the proposed amendment as there are multiple studies included in the City's development charge background study that total approximately $1 million in development charge eligible costs (e.g. 2023 Development Charge Background Study, Official Plan Review, Asset Management, Transportation Master Plan, Parks, Recreation, Library and Culture Facility Needs Assessment, Mobility Hub Transportation and Land Use Study, and Grade Separation Study). Allowing these studies to be an eligible development charge cost means the cost of these vital studies will not become taxpayer obligations and will not have to be funded from the tax levy. 3. Streamlined Process for Extending DC By- Staff note that Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, amended Laws the requirement to update and replace a development charge by-law - Under Bill 185, municipalities can from at least once every five years to at least once every ten years. extend their existing development charge by-laws using a streamlined Page 16 of 17 Page 40 Description Staff Comments process including not having to prepare Staff note that municipalities seeking to update their development a new background study and charge rates would still be subject to the regular development charge undertaking most of the procedural process. requirements associated with passing a new or amended development charge by-law but not change the development charge rate. 4. Reduce the time limit on the DC freeze Staff note that Bill 108, More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019, - Under Bill 185, the `freeze' of a introduced the `freeze' of a development charge rate. Currently the development charge for an applicant's `freeze' of a development charge rate occurs at the rate set as of the development will be reduced from two date of a complete application for a zoning by-law amendment or site years to eighteen months. plan approval (whichever occurs later) is filed. The rate freeze applies as long as building permits are pulled within the prescribed amount of time, which currently is set at two years from the approval of the relevant planning application. ■ The proposed amendment would reduce the prescribed amount of time from two years to eighteen months. Staff note that this may encourage developers to obtain a building permit faster. As such, it is recommended that this reduction of the freeze rate be implemented. Page 17 of 17 Page 41 Item: ED-24-54 Attachment 6 Staff Comments on the Proposed P.P.S. Question (as posed in E.R.O. Posting Number 019-8462) Staff Comments 1. What are your overall thoughts on the Staff note that the current Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 is four years updated proposed Provincial Planning old and the current Growth Plan was issued in August 2020 following Statement? previous significant revisions in 2019 and 2017. Both the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 and the Growth Plan are proposed to be replaced by a single proposed P.P.S. These frequent revisions and issuances of Provincial land use planning policies have created uncertainty regarding land use planning policy direction/continuity and require implementing bodies to continually revise their work plans for effective local implementation. The Province should commit to policy certainty for a defined period of time following the issuance of the proposed P.P.S. to allow municipalities and others the ability to focus on implementation with certainty. It would also provide time to analyze the implementation of the P.P.S. rather than continue undertaking what appears to be an ongoing reactionary approach to implementation, as evidenced by multiple revisions over a relatively short span of years. ■ Subject to the foregoing, staff support the integration of the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 and the Growth Plan into one new Province -wide planning policy document. However, the goal of increasing housing supply and supporting a range and mix of housing options needs to be balanced with efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change as well as achieve the goal of protecting and managing resources, the natural environment and public health and safety. Increasing the supply of housing and supporting a diversity of housing types is important, but should not come at the expense of the environment, or other important planning considerations. Page 1 of 12 Page 42 Question (as posed in E.R.O. Posting Number 019-8462) Staff Comments ■ Staff support the idea of streamlining and simplifying policy direction, as well as policy direction that allows for flexibility and takes into account local circumstances. 2. What are your thoughts on the ability ■ Staff support policies that address increasing the supply of housing and of updated proposed policies to supporting a diversity of housing types. generate appropriate housing supply, . The proposed P.P.S. includes policy language that encourages such as: intensification policies, municipalities to establish minimum targets for intensification and including the redevelopment of redevelopment in built-up areas. As well, the proposed P.P.S. includes underutilized, low density shopping policy language that encourages municipalities to establish density targets malls and plazas; major transit station for designated growth areas. Staff note that for large and fast growing area policies; housing options, rural municipalities, the draft policy encourages a density target of fifty residents housing and affordable housing and jobs per gross hectare in designated growth areas. policies; and student housing policies? Staff note that identifying strategic growth areas and density targets in official plans will assist with making sure there is a sufficient supply and mix of housing options and will result in more efficient land use patterns. As well, staff note that implementing density targets are helpful as they provide a measurable criterion to assist with growth. However, not all communities are the same and the application of one standard density target across the Greater Golden Horseshoe is not realistic, given differing populations, market conditions, etc. In addition, by only encouraging municipalities to establish minimum density targets for designated growth areas and minimum intensification targets for built-up areas, as opposed to making them mandatory, this may result in more Greenfield development with a commensurate reduction in levels of intensification in the existing built-up area. This may result in inefficient land use patterns that do not optimize the use of existing infrastructure and may also result in increased infrastructure costs to support new homes in Greenfield areas. In view of the foregoing, it is recommended that the Province implement policies to ensure that development of lower density development in Greenfield areas proceeds in tandem with higher density Page 2 of 12 Page 43 Question (as posed in E.R.O. Posting Number 019-8462) Staff Comments development within built-up areas, and giving municipalities the ability to regulate the issuance of approvals for lower density development in the event such development outpaces the delivery of a certain level of medium and high density development. ■ The proposed P.P.S. includes policy language for strategic growth areas and the importance of intensification to achieve complete communities and compact built form. The proposed P.P.S. suggests municipalities support the redevelopment of commercially designated retail lands (e.g. underutilized shopping malls and plazas) and consider the implementation of a student housing strategy. ■ Staff support the redevelopment of commercially designated retail lands that are underutilized. Staff note that there are several underutilized shopping plazas throughout the City that could be redeveloped to accommodate additional housing supply and mixed use buildings. For example, staff have approved a rezoning application at 400 King Street West for a twenty storey building. Currently the site is occupied by a one storey plaza. Staff note that the City of Oshawa has had a Student Accommodation Strategy since 2010. The purpose of the Student Accommodation Strategy is to identify, plan for and facilitate a sufficient mix of quality student accommodations that integrate with the community and advances sound planning and City building principles. ■ Staff also note that the Province needs to provide financial assistance to municipalities to assist with increasing the supply of housing and supporting a diverse mix of housing types, including associated hard and soft services. With increases to the housing supply and accelerated housing growth comes an increase in demand for public services such as parks, recreation and fire services, etc. 3. What are your thoughts on the ability ■ Staff note that under the proposed P.P.S., municipalities would have a of the updated proposed policies to planning horizon to at least 20 years and not more than 30 years. Staff make land available for development, support the proposed policy language that allows a municipality to plan for Page 3 of 12 Page 44 Question (as posed in E.R.O. Posting Number 019-8462) Staff Comments such as: forecasting, land supply, and infrastructure, public services facilities, strategic growth areas and planning horizon policies; settlement employment areas beyond the above mentioned 20 year time horizon. area boundary expansions policies; Staff note that under the proposed P.P.S., the policies regarding and employment area planning policies? settlement area boundary expansions may prove to be problematic. Under the proposed P.P.S. a planning authority can identify a new settlement area or allow a settlement area boundary expansion at any time, including in response to a boundary expansion application submitted by a third party, rather than only through a municipal comprehensive review undertaken by a municipality. There may be more opportunity for sprawl to occur with settlement area boundary expansions being able to be considered at any time. This may also have negative impacts on infrastructure costs to support new homes. ■ Staff note that under the proposed P.P.S., municipalities will have the ability to remove lands from employment areas at any time rather than through a municipal comprehensive review process, provided it can be demonstrated that the removal meets a set of criteria. Staff note that this may be problematic owing to the fact that an employment area can be converted at any time versus through a municipal comprehensive review which provides a holistic approach to assessing employment conversions vis-a-vis a municipality's requirement to meet its employment forecast. 4. What are your thoughts on updated ■ In principle, staff support the proposed policies as they relate to providing proposed policies to provide infrastructure to support development. infrastructure to support development? ■ Staff support the policy direction requiring municipalities to prioritize planning and investment for infrastructure and public services facilities in strategic growth areas. Strategic growth areas present ideal opportunities for sustainable development and growth. ■ Staff support the policy direction regarding major transit station areas and the addition of policy language that speaks to supporting infrastructure that accommodates a range of mobility needs and supporting active transportation, including sidewalk and bicycle lanes. Major transit station Page 4 of 12 Page 45 Question (as posed in E.R.O. Staff Comments Posting Number 019-8462) areas have a minimum density target that ranges from 200 to 150 residents and jobs per hectare based on how the area is served by transit. Supporting infrastructure in these areas is critical. ■ Staff support the policy direction that speaks to when a municipality may identify a new settlement area. Specially, a new settlement area may be permitted when it has been demonstrated that infrastructure and public service facilities are available or planned. However, staff also note that it is important to take into account existing infrastructure and opportunities to accommodate growth through infill development within built-up areas, and prioritize these areas, where appropriate. 5. What are your thoughts on updated ■ Staff note that there needs to be a balance between increasing the proposed policies regarding the housing supply and protecting and managing resources and the natural conservation and management of environment. Increasing the supply of housing and the range of housing resources, such as requirements to types is important, but this should not come at the expense of the use an agricultural systems environment, or other important planning considerations. approach? ■ Staff support the policy direction that requires municipalities to collaborate with conservation authorities as it relates to directing development outside of hazardous lands as well as undertaking watershed planning. The addition of policy language that supports collaboration between municipalities and conservation authorities is important. 6. What are your thoughts on any ■ Staff do not have any particular comments of note on the proposed implementation challenges with the revocations. In terms of implementation challenges with the updated updated proposed Provincial Planning proposed P.P.S., the Province should commit to policy certainty for a Statement? What are your thoughts defined period of time following the issuance of the proposed P.P.S. to on the proposed revocations in O. allow municipalities and others the ability to focus on implementation with Reg. 311/06 (Transitional Matters - certainty. It would also provide time to analyze the implementation of the Growth Plans) and O. Reg. 416/05 P.P.S. rather than continue undertaking what appears to be an ongoing (Growth Plan Areas)? reactionary approach to implementation, as evidenced by multiple revisions over a relatively short span of years. Page 5 of 12 Page 46 Question (as posed in E.R.O. Posting Number 019-8462) Staff Comments ■ Ontario Regulation 311/06: Transitional Matters - Growth Plans under the Places to Grow Act, 2005 is a regulation that looks at transition regulations for the Growth Plan. The Province is proposing to revoke Sections 2.0.1, 2.1, 3, 3.1, 4 and 5.1 which discuss transition policies. ■ Ontario Regulation 416/05: Growth Plan Areas under the Places to Grow Act, 2005 is a regulation that identifies growth plan areas. The Province is proposing to revoke Section 2. ■ Staff note that the Province is looking at providing transition regulations for relevant matters using a new transition regulation under the Planning Act. If necessary, future consultation would follow on this matter. General Staff Comments on the Proposed P.P.S. Description Staff Comments 1. Growth Targets: Staff note that under the proposed P.P.S., municipalities would have a - Under the proposed P.P.S., planning horizon to at least 20 years and not more than 30 years. Staff planning authorities would base support the proposed policy language that allows a municipality to plan for population and employment infrastructure, public services facilities, strategic growth areas and growth forecasts on the Ministry of employment areas beyond the above mentioned time horizon. Finance's 25-year growth Staff note that the Envision Durham Regional Official Plan Amendment projections. Municipalities can includes a planning horizon to 2051, in line with the proposed P.P.S. policies also continue to forecast growth in this regard. using population and employment Staff note that draft policy 2.3.1.4, which encourages (but does not forecasts previously issued by the require) planning authorities to establish minimum targets Province. for intensification and redevelopment, is carried over from the draft - Under the proposed P.P.S., Provincial Policy Statement, 2023, but has been modified to refer growth targets would be to intensification and redevelopment in "built-up areas" rather reintroduced. Specifically than settlement areas, as specified in the draft Provincial Policy planning authorities would Statement, 2023. establish and implement minimum Page 6 of 12 Page 47 Description Staff Comments targets for housing that is Staff note that draft policy 2.3.1.5 of the proposed P.P.S. has also been affordable to low and moderate modified from the draft Provincial Policy Statement, 2023 to provide that income households. Low and planning authorities are encouraged (but not required) to establish moderate income households will minimum density targets for designated growth areas (rather be a defined term. than settlement areas). For large and fast-growing municipalities, this - Under the proposed P.P.S., a draft policy would encourage (but not require) a density target of change has been proposed to 50 residents and jobs per gross hectare in designated growth expect municipalities to have a areas (rather than settlement areas). planning horizon to at least 20 Staff note that identifying strategic growth areas and density targets in official years and not more than 30 years. plans will assist with making sure there is a sufficient supply and mix of Previously, it was proposed under housing options and will result in more efficient land use patterns. As well, the draft Provincial Policy staff note that implementing density targets are helpful as they provide a Statement, 2023 that the planning measurable criterion to assist with growth. However, not all communities are horizon would be 25 years with no the same and the application of one standard density target across the upper limit. Greater Golden Horseshoe is not realistic, given differing populations, market conditions, etc. In addition, by only encouraging municipalities to establish minimum density targets for designated growth areas as opposed to making it mandatory, this may result in more Greenfield development with a commensurate reduction in levels of intensification in the existing built-up area. This may result in inefficient land use patterns that do no optimize the use of existing infrastructure and may also result in increased infrastructure costs to support new homes in Greenfield areas. In view of the foregoing, it is recommended that the Province implement policies to ensure that development of lower density development in Greenfield areas proceeds in tandem with higher density development within built-up areas, and giving municipalities the ability to regulate the issuance of approvals for lower density development in the event such development outpaces the delivery of a certain level of medium and high density development. Page 7 of 12 Description Staff Comments 2. Settlement Area Boundary Staff note that this proposed amendment will allow municipalities to Expansions: expand their urban boundary at any time, including in response to a - Under the proposed P.P.S. a boundary expansion application since it is proposed that there will no planning authority can identify a longer be a municipal comprehensive review process requirement for such new settlement area or allow a expansions. settlement area boundary Staff note there may be more opportunity for sprawl with settlement expansion at any time. boundary area expansions being able to be considered at any time. This - Under the proposed P.P.S., the may also have negative impacts on infrastructure costs to support new current conditions required to be homes. satisfied before a settlement area Staff note under the proposed P.P.S., the current conditions required to be boundary expansion is permitted satisfied before a settlement area boundary expansion is permitted are are being replaced with the being removed and replaced with a list of seven items that shall be following which the planning considered. Previously, under the draft Provincial Policy Statement, 2023, authority shall consider: municipalities `should consider' these matters. 1. the need to designate and plan Staff note that there is no limitation on the ability of landowners to apply for a for additional land to settlement area boundary expansion. Nor does the proposed P.P.S. accommodate an appropriate propose size limitations for boundary expansion proposals. It is also being range and mix of land uses; proposed that an applicant would have the ability to appeal a municipality's 2. if there is sufficient capacity in refusal or failure to make a decision on an settlement area boundary existing or planned expansion request provided the expansion lands are located outside the infrastructure and public Greenbelt Area. Staff have concerns with this owing to the fact that the tests service facilities; for settlement area boundary expansions are not as stringent as they currently are under the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020. A municipality is 3. whether the applicable lands no longer required to demonstrate that sufficient opportunities to comprise specialty crop areas; accommodate growth are not available. This could hinder efforts to promote 4. the evaluation of alternative intensification within a municipality's built boundary and optimize the use of locations which avoid prime existing infrastructure, and instead spur Greenfield development where agricultural areas and, where services may potentially need to be extended. avoidance is not possible, consider reasonable alternatives on lower priority Page 8 of 12 Page 49 Description Staff Comments agricultural lands in prime agricultural areas; 5. whether the new or expanded settlement area complies with the minimum distance separation formulae; 6. whether impacts on the agricultural system are avoided, or where avoidance is not possible, minimized and mitigated to the extent feasible as determined through an agricultural impact assessment or equivalent analysis, based on provincial guidance; and, 7. the new or expanded settlement area provides for the phased progression of urban development. - Settlement area boundary expansions that are outside the Greenbelt Area can be appealed at any time for refusal or failure to make a decision. 3. Strategic Growth Areas: Staff support strategic growth areas being the focus of growth. Staff note - Under the proposed P.P.S. a new that the proposed P.P.S. outlines minimum density targets for major transit policy is being introduced to station areas on higher order transit corridors. The minimum density encourage municipalities to targets are: identify and focus growth in - 200 residents and jobs combined per hectare for those that are served strategic growth areas. However, by subways; Page 9 of 12 Page 50 Description Staff Comments the proposed P.P.S. no longer - 160 residents and jobs combined per hectare for those that are served requires large and fast growing by light rail or bus rapid transit; or, municipalities to identify and focus - 150 residents and jobs combined per hectare for those that are served growth and employment in by commuter or regional inter -city rail. strategic growth areas by identifying an appropriate Staff note that the proposed P.P.S. does not provide minimum targets for minimum density target for each strategic growth areas, and is also not requiring municipalities to identify strategic growth area. appropriate targets in their respective area municipal official plans. Staff note that identifying strategic growth areas and density targets in official plans is critical as it will assist with making sure there is a sufficient supply and mix of housing options, will result in more efficient land use patterns, and will assist in efforts to optimize the use of infrastructure. 4. Employment Areas: Staff note that under the proposed P.P.S., municipalities will have the - Under the proposed P.P.S., ability to remove lands from employment areas at any time rather than municipalities can remove lands through a municipal comprehensive review process, provided it can be from employment areas at any demonstrated that the removal meets a set of criteria. Staff note that this time rather than through a may be problematic owing to the fact that an employment area can be municipal comprehensive review, converted at any time versus through a municipal comprehensive review provided it can be demonstrated which provides a holistic approach to assessing employment conversions, that: vis-a-vis a municipality's requirement to meet its employment forecast. o there is a need for the removal Staff note that the definition of "areas of employment" is being proposed to of land and it will not be be amended and may result in changes to the City's existing official plan required for employment area policy framework as it relates to industrial areas. For example, areas to be "area over the long term; designated as of employment" will no longer permit public service facilities as a permitted use, such as parks and community recreation o the proposed use would not facilities. Any areas which are not explicitly designated as "areas of negatively impact the overall employment" under the new definition as contained in the Planning Act will employment area; no longer be subject to any requirement to demonstrate there is a need for o infrastructure and public conversion to non -employment uses, such as residential or commercial uses. service facilities are available For this reason, it would be appropriate to clarify that such areas are not to to accommodate the use; and, be relied upon to meet a municipality's employment forecast in terms of planning an appropriate land budget. Page 10 of 12 Page 51 Description Staff Comments o there are ample employment In 2019, the Provincial government introduced provincially significant lands for future employment employment zones. Staff note that provincially significant employment zones growth. were introduced without any substantive policy framework. Staff have no - Under the proposed P.P.S., the concerns with provincially significant employment zones not being carried definition of `employment area' is forward. proposed to be revised. The focus will be on manufacturing, research and development in connection to manufacturing, warehousing, goods movement, associated retail and office and ancillary facilities. Institutional uses and commercial development including retail and office uses are not permitted. - Under the proposed P.P.S., "provincially significant employment zones" will not be carried forward as land use designation entities. 5. Agriculture: Staff note that having in place a policy direction that provides continued - Under the proposed P.P.S., protection of prime agricultural areas and promotes Ontario's agricultural additional residences will be system is important. Depending on the context and purpose of proposed permitted on farm properties (up to developments, allowing additional residential development in rural two additional residential units and settlements and the division of large farms into smaller lots may potentially up to three lots if certain criteria affect the operational viability of land for agricultural activity. can be met). ■ Allowing additional residences for seasonal workers will support growing agricultural businesses and operations. 6. Natural Hazards: ■ Staff note that this section is now requiring municipalities to collaborate with - Under the proposed P.P.S., conservation authorities when identifying hazardous land and hazardous Section 5.2 discusses sites and managing development in these areas. Staff support the addition of policy language that supports collaboration between municipalities and Page 11 of 12 Page 52 Description Staff Comments management of development in conservation authorities as it relates to identifying natural and human -made areas containing natural and hazards. human -made hazards. 7. Stormwater Management and Water: ■ Staff note that the proposed P.P.S. includes water management policies - Section 3.6 of the proposed P.P.S. that require planning authorities to allocate and reallocate, if necessary, discusses planning for sewage, the unused system capacity of water and sewage services to meet current water and stormwater services. needs. - Section 4.2 of the proposed P.P.S. ' Staff note that policies in the proposed P.P.S. are now requiring discusses the wise use and municipalities to undertake watershed planning to inform planning for management of water through sewage, water services and stormwater management. Staff are of the various methods including opinion that watershed planning should be undertaken in partnership with watershed planning. the respective conservation authorities, as appropriate. In addition, it should be noted that it would be appropriate to undertake watershed planning to prepare for the impacts of a changing climate. ■ The proposed P.P.S. includes a definition for Watershed Planning. It is recommended that the definition be revised to include consideration of the impacts of a changing climate and severe weather events. Page 12 of 12 Page 53 MULTI -MUNICIPAL ENERGY WORKING GROUP TOM ALLWOOD, COUNCILLOR, GREY HIGHLANDS, CHAIR JIM HANNA, DEPUTY MAYOR, HURON-KINLOSS, VICE -CHAIR 1925 BRUCE ROAD 10, BOX 70, CHESLEY, ON NOG 1 LO 519-363-3039 FAX:519-363-2203 jhamilton@arran-elderslie.ca May 1, 2024 Dear Mayor and Members of Council, The Multi -Municipal Energy Working Group (MMEWG) continues to actively follow the procurement processes the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) is undertaking to procure additional capacity to meet projected future energy needs. Details released regarding the Long -Term 2 Request for Proposals (LT2 RFP)plus subsequent LT RFPs has raised many concerns. The IESO RFPs call for 5 TWh of new energy generation, and proposes that this be mostly derived from 2000 MW of new energy generation produced by mostly wind and solar by 2030. It further proposes that a portion of this generation could be derived by repowering on the current footprint of existing wind turbines that will reach their end of contract life between 2026 and 2034. Since existence, the now Multi -Municipal Energy Working Group, formerly known as the Multi -Municipal Wind Turbine Working Group, has continued to advocate for stronger safety measures and best practices related to wind turbine installations across the province. To date, many of the concerns raised have not been addressed with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks confirmed in a recent IESO engagement session that no changes to the existing setbacks are planned. Severe health effects to many residents living within the vicinity of project sites have been identified and continue to jeopardized the health and well-being of many residents. The current setbacks from other activities are not sufficient to protect against the full range of noise emissions from wind turbines. The MMEWG will be making a presentation on this topic to the Grey Bruce Public Health Unit in the March in an effort to bring these concerns to the forefront in advance of the repowering of current projects. Public safety continues to remain a paramount concern of the MMEWG. Setbacks for tower collapse remain insufficient. The current blade length plus 10 metres requirement not a strong enough protective measure for existing projects let alone repowered turbines on existing footprints. Setbacks for ice throw are also insufficient, as the blade Page 54 length plus 10 metre setback is less than the ice throw distance witnessed in Ontario. Ontario has witnessed turbine fire and flaming debris on the ground at 200 metres, while setback was 50 metres. A Ministry review failed to recommend industry standard protective barriers for fire suppression in spite of examples of fires in similar turbines. In 2013, 115 municipalities declared themselves "Unwilling Hosts" for wind turbine projects. With the expected surge in proposals given the ambitious procurement efforts being undertaken by the IESO, and little change in the regulations, the MMEWG strongly recommends that municipalities reaffirm their unwillingness to host projects until the appropriate ministries address the concerns and make stronger rules and regulations to ensure that, as municipal leaders, provide measures necessary for the health, safety and well-being of citizens within our jurisdiction, as mandated by the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended. Over the past month, the municipalities of Arran- Elderslie, Chatsworth and East Zorra-Tavistock have taken this step. For consideration, a DRAFT declaration has been attached. Should your municipality declare its intention, please let us and we will continue to keep you apprised of any advancements in the industry and regulations. Warm Regards, P.P. Tom Allwood, Chair, Multi -Municipal Energy Working Group Councillor, Municipality of Grey Highlands Page 55 DRAFT Independent Electrical System Operator By email: engagement@ieso.ca Re: Municipality/Township of - Wind Turbine Projects Please be advised at the Municipality/Township of Council meeting held on , the following resolution was approved: WHEREAS the Independent Electrical System Operator (the IESO) has proposed to move forward with three RFPs where new wind turbine projects can receive a contract from the IESO; and WHEREAS people living near existing wind turbines report considerable impact on their lives due to noise and other emissions from the wind turbines; and WHEREAS there are gaps in the enforcement of key terms of the Renewable Energy Approvals governing existing projects relative to noise standards and resolution of complaints; and WHEREAS municipal approval is required to locate one of these projects in the Municipality/Township of ; and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council does not support the establishment of any new wind turbine projects within the municipality; and THAT the IESO be directed to advise potential applicants of this resolution. Sincerely, Clerk, Municipality/Township of c: The Hon. Todd Smith - Minister of Energy - MinisterEnergy@ontario.ca David Donovan, Chief of Staff, david.donovan@ontario .ca Association of Municipalities of Ontario - policy@amo.on.ca Local MPP Multi -Municipal Energy Working Group - ihamilton@arran-elderslie.ca Page 56 The County PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY+ ONTARIO May 9, 2024 From the Office of the Clerk The Corporation of the County of Prince Edward T: 613.476.2148 x 1021 F: 613.476.5727 clerks@pecounty.on.ca I www.thecounty.ca Please be advised that during the regular Council meeting of May 7, 2024 the following resolution regarding seeking support for the Province and Federal Government to work together to help end the national housing affordability crisis. RESOLUTION NO. 2024-224 DATE: May 7, 2024 MOVED BY: Councillor Branderhorst SECONDED BY: Councillor Roberts WHEREAS there is an unprecedented national housing affordability crisis and substantial investments in new affordable social housing are required to address the overwhelming need; WHEREAS substantial investments in revitalizing existing affordable social housing are required to maintain existing housing stock so as not to make the national housing affordability crisis worse; WHEREAS social support expansions are required to prevent families choosing between housing and other basic necessities of life; WHEREAS the national housing affordability crisis is most acute in Ontario, and unlike most Provinces and Territories in Canada, 47 Service Managers and District Social Service Administration Boards (SM/DSSAB) are responsible for delivering social supports, including housing affordability supports in this Province; WHEREAS many of these 47 SM/DSSABs in Ontario are larger than many provinces and territories in other provinces in the country, but lack the revenue, policy tools and powers of the Provincial and Federal governments to end the housing affordability crisis on their own; WHEREAS on March 25, 2024 our local SM/DSSAB (Prince Edward Lennnox and Addington Social Services) was notified by the Province that the Federal Government would be cutting $355 million in funding intended to support affordable social housing across the province, due to a disagreement about how community housing units are counted as part of the National Housing Strategy Action Plan; Page 57 4 From the Office of the Clerk The Corporation of the County of Prince Edward The County T: 613.476.2148 x 1021 F: 613.476.5727 PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY*ONTARIO clerks@pecou nty. on. ca I www.thecounty.ca WHEREAS any reductions in funding from the Federal and Provincial governments risks the termination of critically needed housing and social supports for some of the most vulnerable across Ontario; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the County of Prince Edward requests that the funding dispute between the Federal and Provincial governments be resolved to limit mounting harms to some of Ontario's most vulnerable people; THAT the Federal and Provincial governments to continue to fund SMs/DSSABs in an amount equivalent to the monies under the CMHC-Ontario Bilateral agreement in the National Housing Strategy until a new funding agreement can be reached; THAT the Council of the County of Prince Edward advocate to the Federal and Provincial governments to establish a trilateral table including the SMs/DSSABs, to negotiate the final 3 year tranche of funding under the National Housing Strategy; THAT Council direct the Mayor to write to the Provincial and Federal Ministers of Housing urgently requesting confirmation that financial support will continue for vulnerable households across Ontario currently in receipt of the Canada -Ontario Housing Benefit prior to May 31, 2024; and THAT a copy of this resolution be sent to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association, Prince Edward Lennox and Addington Social Services, the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus, and all Ontario Municipalities. Yours truly, Catalina Blumenberg, CLERK cc: Mayor Steve Ferguson, Councillor Branderhorst, and Marcia Wallace, CAO Page 58 Honourable Lisa Thompson Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Via e-mail: lisa.thompsonco@pc.ola.org Township of Puslinch 7404 Wellington Road 34 Puslinch, ON NOB 2.10 www.ouslinch.ca May 9, 2024 Dear Minister Thompson, In the 2023 Auditor General's Value -for -Money Audit of Public Health Ontario (PHO) released in December 2023, recommendation number 5 states that PHO, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health (MOH), are to update and implement a laboratory modernization plan within 12 months to streamline the laboratory's operations. https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arreports/en23/AR publichealth en23. pdf This stemmed from a 2017 proposal by PHO, collaboratively with the MOH at the request of the Deputy Minister to close six of the 11 public health laboratory sites (Hamilton, Kingston, Orillia, Peterborough, Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins) and gradually discontinue private drinking water testing. The justification: Mitigating rising costs of maintaining facilities Establishing a more efficient operating model that reduces the rerouting of samples to other PHO laboratory sites The residents of the Township of Puslinch do not have access to a municipal water supply and rely exclusively on private wells. The phasing out of free well water testing will impose an additional barrier to water sampling. At the April 10, 2024, meeting of the Township of Puslinch's Council the following resolution was unanimously approved: 7404 Wellington Road 34, Puslinch, ON NOB 2JO Tel: (519) 763-1226 Fax: (519) 763-5846 admin(7a puslinch.ca Page 59 Resolution No. 2024-134: Moved by Councillor Sepulis and Seconded by Councillor Hurst That correspondence item 10.2 regarding the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Committee recommendation Phase Out of Free Well Water Testing be received for information; and Whereas the Township of Puslinch in receipt of the February 26, 2024 letter from the Ausable Maitland Valley Source Protection Committee (via the Lake Erie Source Protection Committee Meeting of March 28, 2024 ) to Honourable Lisa Thompson, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs concerned Public Health Ontario's recommended phase out of free well water testing; and Whereas the residents of the Township does not have access to a municipal water supply and rely exclusively on well water; and Whereas the phasing of free well water testing will impose an additional barrier to ensuring safe drinking water when it is already difficult to encourage residents to test their water; Be it resolved that the Township of Puslinch supports the letter from the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Committee to Minister Lisa Thompson and requests staff to send a similar letter of concern Minister Lisa Thompson, Honourable Sylvia Jones Minister of Heath and Long Term Care, Honourable Andrea Khanjin Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, all Ontario Muncipalities, AMO, Hon. Ted Arnott, and MPP Rae. CARRIED As per the above resolution, please accept a copy of this correspondence for your information and consideration. Sincerely, Justine Brotherston Municipal Clerk 7404 Wellington Road 34, Puslinch, ON NOB 2JO Tel: (519) 763-1226 Fax: (519) 763-5846 admin@a puslinch.ca Page 60 CC: Hon. Sylvia Jones, Hon. Andrea Khanjin, MPP Rae, Hon. Ted Arnott, All Ontario Municipalities 7404 Wellington Road 34, Puslinch, ON NOB 2J0 Tel: (519) 763-1226 Fax: (519) 763-5846 admin@puslinch.ca Page 61 DRINKING WATER Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley SOURCE PROTECTION Source Protection Region Our Actions Platter February 26th, 2023 Honourable Lisa Thompson, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Via e-mail: lisa.thompsonco@pc.ola.org Re: Recommended Phase Out of Free Well Water Testing in the 2023 Auditor General's Report Dear Minister Thompson, In the 2023 Auditor General's Value -for -Money Audit of Public Health Ontario (PHO) released in December 2023, recommendation number 5 states that PHO, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health (MOH), are to update and implement a laboratory modernization plan within 12 months to streamline the laboratory's operations. https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arreports/en23/AR publichealth en23. pdf This stemmed from a 2017 proposal by PHO, collaboratively with the MOH at the request of the Deputy Minister to close six of the 11 public health laboratory sites (Hamilton, Kingston, Orillia, Peterborough, Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins) and gradually discontinue private drinking water testing. The justification: • Mitigating rising costs of maintaining facilities • Establishing a more efficient operating model that reduces the rerouting of samples to other PHO laboratory sites About 50% of the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Region population is serviced by private wells. The proposed removal of PHO's free private drinking water testing is of concern to our Ausable Bayfield Source Protection Committee, particularly when Source Protection Regions have been directed by the Ministry of Environment, Conversation and Parks, Source Protection Branch, to deliver education and outreach to private well owners under the new Best Practices initiative. In our region, we have been working with service and community organizations such as the Lions, Optimists and Lakeshore Residents Associations to co -host very successful Best Practices 'Water Wise' events that encourage private well owners to sample their drinking water using the free microbial testing provided by the province. By distributing water sample bottles ahead of the event and delivering the samples to Huron Perth Public Health for lab analysis, most of Page 1 of 3 P4062 the barriers to water sampling are removed. At these events 25% to 50% of a communities well water will be sampled in one day or night. Well owners understand the importance of testing their well water; it is the inconvenience of doing so that is the barrier. One of the goals of the 'Water Wise' events is to encourage well owners to get in the habit of testing their water regularly as part of Best Practices for protecting their drinking water. The hope is that the community groups and service clubs that Source Protection staff work with will make Water Wise water sampling events part of their regular activities. Private drinking water systems in Ontario do not have the legislated safeguards that are required for municipal/communal/public systems under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002. Only municipal water supply systems fall under the Clean Water Act, 2006 and the Source Water Protection program. Health Canada's guidance on waterborne pathogens references three studies that determine that private systems are vulnerable and there is evidence that demonstrates they are more likely to contribute to gastrointestinal illness than public drinking water systems. If the free water testing phase out recommendation is approved, well owners would have to use a commercial lab for a fee, which disincentivizes testing. When water is not monitored regularly, there is no way to know the true quality of the water, which puts people at increased risk of becoming ill. With private systems being stand-alone systems, any associated illnesses are isolated sporadic events and do not come to public attention like those seen during the Walkerton outbreak. The private drinking water test data maintained by PHO has been used by researchers to publish evidence that helps support public health policy. Source Protection Committees can access data associated with their area, as was presented at our March 2023 meeting. The data can be used to inform well owners of regional water quality concerns and associated health risks. If PHO stops testing, this data and affiliated research will no longer be available. In the Walkerton Inquiry Report Part 2, Justice O'Connor concluded the privatization of laboratory testing of drinking water samples connected directly to the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Walkerton Ontario in May 2000. Twenty-four years later, there is a proposal to privatize water testing once again. At the January 31St meeting of the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Committee the following resolution was unanimously approved: Page 2 of 3 Paid 63 MOTION #SPC: 2024-02-04 Moved by Philip Keightley Seconded by Mary Ellen Foran "THAT the Source Protection Committee direct a letter to Minister Thompson requesting that the province not proceed with the recommended phase out of free private well testing in Ontario, and "FURTHER, THAT area municipalities, the Minister of Environment Conservation and Parks, the Minister of Health and Long -Term Care, other Source Protection Committees, and local health units be forwarded the letter and asked for their support. " Carried. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely Matthew Pearson Chair Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Committee Cc Honourable Sylvia Jones, Minister of Health and Long -Term Care Honourable Andrea Khanjin, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Municipalities of Adelaide Metcalfe, Ashfield-Colborn e-Wawanosh, Bluewater, Central Huron, Goderich, Howick, Huron East, Lambton Shores, Lucan Biddulph, Mapleton, Middlesex Centre, Minto, Morris-Turnberry, North Middlesex, North Perth, Perth South, South Bruce, South Huron, Warwick, West Perth, Wellington North Townships of Huron-Kinloss and North Huron Huron Perth Public Health, Lambton Public Health, Middlesex -London Health Unit, Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health Source Protection Regions: Cataraqui; Central Lake Ontario, Toronto, Credit Valley; Essex; Hamilton Halton; Grey Sauble, Saugeen, Northern Bruce Peninsula; Lake Erie; Lakehead; Mattagami; Mississippi -Rideau; Niagara; North Bay; Quinte; Raisin South Nation; Sault Ste. Marie; South Georgian Bay Lake Simcoe; Sudbury; Thames-Sydenham and Region; Trent Conservation Coalition Page 3 of 3 P4264 From: Minister Seniors and Accessibility(MSAA) To: Minister Seniors and Accessibility (MSAA) Subject: June is Seniors Month 2024 1 Juin est le Mois des aines 2024 Date: Thursday, May 9, 2024 3:12:05 PM You don't often get email from ministerseniorsaccessibility@ontario.ca. Learn why this is im oa rtant EXTERNAL Minister Cho Op-ed for Seniors' Month — 2024 June is Seniors Month: Keeping seniors fit, active and socially connected Seniors Month has been celebrated in the month of June since 1984, and this year marks 40 years celebrating Ontario's outstanding seniors and recognizing the positive impact they have made in our lives. Across this great province, seniors have made enormous contributions in building the Ontario we all enjoy today, and they are the fastest growing demographic group. By 2046, the number of adults aged 65 and over is projected to increase significantly from over 2 million, since 2021, to 4.4 million. This year's Seniors Month is another wonderful opportunity for celebrating our aging population with the theme, `Working for Seniors'. It's a theme that emphasizes the continued importance of supporting older adults through the right programs and initiatives that provide wellness, social engagement and education in communities across the province. I am proud of the work we have done - and continue to do - to address the needs of an aging population while helping seniors contribute to all aspects of community life. Our programs and services across our government will always be guided by the health and well-being of our senior population. And we will continue to invest in the supports that all seniors need and deserve so they can live life to the fullest. For example, The Seniors Active Living Centre (SALQ Program is a program that promotes wellness, social interaction, education, and support services with the goal of keeping seniors healthy and independent through approximately 316 programs across the province. Each year, our Seniors Community Grant Program funds local not -for -profit community groups and organizations to deliver projects, supports and resources that help older adults by offering a wide variety of activities to promote engagement, reduce isolation and promote healthy living. Our new website at ontario.ca/seniors and our Guide to Programs and Services for Seniors offers a wealth of information for seniors and caregivers about health, Page 65 finances, housing, security and more. It is also a priority for me to honour the knowledge, experience, and contributions that Ontario's older adults have made to the province through the Ontario Senior Achievement Awards and Ontario Senior of the Year Awards. Our government knows that Ontario's communities are strengthened, and everyone benefits when our aging population can stay active and connected with local supports. Over the course of Seniors Month, we are working with municipalities and our community partners to provide resources that promote the health and well-being of Ontario's seniors, help reduce social isolation and make sure they have opportunities to thrive in their communities. Not just during Seniors Month, but always, I encourage everyone to take some time to reach out and acknowledge a senior in your life. Together, let's recognize our seniors and help keep them active, fit and socially connected. For more information about programs and services for seniors, visit: www.ontario.ca/seniors. Raymond Cho Ontario Minister for Seniors and Accessibility Confidentiality Warning: This e-mail contains information intended only for the use of the individual emailed above. If you have received this e-mail in error, we would appreciate it if you could advise us through the ministry's website at the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility and destroy all copies of this message. Thank you. ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■ Article d'opinion du ministre Cho a ('occasion du Mois des aines 2024 Le moil de juin est le Mois des aines : Veiller a ce que les personnes agees restent en forme, actives et socialement connectees Le Mois des aines est celebre au mois de juin depuis 1984, et cette annee marque 40 annees de celebration des personnes agees exceptionnelles de I'Ontario et de reconnaissance des effets positifs qu'elles ont eus dans notre vie. Page 66 Dans 1'ensemble de cette grande province, les personnes 5gees ont apporte d'enormes contributions a la construction de ('Ontario dont nous jouissons tous aujourd'hui, et elles constituent le groupe demographique dont la croissance est la plus rapide. D'ici a 2046, le nombre d'adultes ages de 65 ans et plus devrait augmenter de maniere considerable,passant de plus de 2 millions, depuis 2021, a 4.4 millions. Cette annee, le Mois des aines est une nouvelle occasion de celebrer nos personnes 5gees sur le theme « Au service des aines » . C'est un theme qui souligne ('importance continue de soutenir nos aines au moyen de programmes et d'initiatives appropries qui assurent le mieux-etre, la participation a la vie sociale et ('education dans les collectivites de 1'ensemble de la province. Je suis fier du travail que nous avons accompli — et que nous continuons d'accomplir — pour repondre aux besoins d'une population vieillissante tout en aidant les personnes agees a contribuer a tous les aspects de la vie de la collectivite. Nos programmes et services dans 1'ensemble de notre gouvernement seront toujours guides par la sante et le bien-etre de notre population de personnes agees. Et nous continuerons a investir dans les aides dont toutes les personnes 5gees ont besoin et qu'elles meritent, afin qu'elles puissent vivre pleinement leur vie. Par exemple, le Programme des centres de vie active pour personnes 5gees Cl VAPAj est un programme qui promeut le mieux-etre, les interactions sociales, I'education et les services de soutien dans le but de maintenir les personnes 5gees en bonne sante et independantes au moyen d'environ 316 programmes dans toute la province. Chaque annee, notre Programme de subventions aux projets communautaires pour ('inclusion des aines finance des groupes et des organisations communautaires a but non lucratif a 1'echelle locale pour qu'ils mettent en oeuvre des projets, des mesures de soutien et des ressources qui aident les personnes agees en offrant une grande variete d'activites pour promouvoir la participation a la vie sociale, reduire I'isolement et favoriser un mode de vie sain. Notre nouveau site Web https://www.ontario.ca/fr/page/aines et notre Guide des Programmes et services pour les aines offrent une mine de renseignements aux personnes 5gees et aux soignants sur la sante, les finances, le logement, la securite et bien plus encore. II est egalement prioritaire pour moi d'honorer les connaissances, 1'experience et les contributions que les personnes agees de I'Ontario ont apportees a la province grace aux Prix d'excellence de ('Ontario pour les personnes agees et aux Prix ontariens de la personne 5gee de I'annee. Notre gouvernement sait que les collectivites de I'Ontario sont renforcees et que tout le monde en profite lorsque nos personnes agees peuvent rester actives et en contact avec les soutiens locaux. Page 67 Pendant le Mois des aines, nous collaborons avec les municipalites et nos partenaires communautaires pour fournir des ressources qui favorisent la sante et le bien-titre des personnes agees de I'Ontario, contribuent a reduire I'isolement social et veillent a ce qu'elles aient la possibilite de s'epanouir au sein de leur collectivite. Pas seulement pendant le Mois des aines, mais tout au long de I'annee, j'encourage tout le monde a prendre le temps de tendre la main a une personne agee de son entourage et de Iui temoigner de la reconnaissance. Ensemble, rendons hommage a nos aines et aidons-les a rester actifs, en forme et en contact avec la societe. Pour de plus amples renseignements sur les programmes et les services destines aux personnes agees, consultez le site :.https://www.ontario.ca/fr/page/aines. Raymond Cho Ministre des Services aux aines et de I'Accessibilite Avis de confidentialite: Ce courriel contient des renseignements destines exclusivement a son destinataire. Si vous avez requ ce courriel par erreur, nous vous serions reconnaissants de bien vouloir nous en informer sur le site Web du ministere a I'adresse Ministere des Services aux aines et de I'Accessibilite et de detruire tout exemplaire de ce message. Merci. Page 68 Newcastle BIA MINUTES April 11th, 2024 www.villageofnewcastle.ca Attendance: Jim Norwood, Marni Lewis, Janeen Calder, Carolyn Brooks, Valentine Lovekin, Doug Sirrs, Jane Black, Tracey Yates, Rhonda Armour, Theresa Vanhaverbeke, Laura Knox, Stephanie Summers Regrets: Greg Lewis, Lina Schmahl 1. Meeting called to order at 9:04am - Land Acknowledgement read Thank you to Newcastle Tim Horton's for donating the coffee and muffins for our meeting. 2. Welcome to our guest Derek Boucher from Durham College Community Employment Services. Their office is located at King and Liberty in Bowmanville (across from the Walk in Clinic). Anyone that is looking for employment can come and receive their free services provided for resume building and interview skills. There are affiliate programs offered through the Clarington libraries for job seekers. If you know anyone in need of job search assistance they can call the Bowmanville office at 905-697-4472 asking to book an appointment with a staff to meet in Newcastle. Funding is also available to employers looking for help through the Canada Ontario Job Grant, up to $1000 - $3000 potentially. There has been positive feedback from Clarington businesses who have used the services and successfully found employees. If you are interested in any other information reach out to derek.boucher@durhamcollege.ca 3. Approval of March minutes Motion by: Janeen Calder Seconded by: Doug Sirrs Carried 4. Business Arising from Minutes: n/a 5. President's report: n/a - Valentine sends his regrets for the May meeting 6. Treasurer's Report: The current bank balance is $120,486.11. A sub -committee of Theresa, Janeen, Tracey, Valentine, Doug, Carolyn, Jane and Marni will meet to Page 69 discuss how to spend money in the next 6 months. New banners, upcoming event signs etc. 7. Council Report: n/a 8. Committee Reports Safety and Decor: Bloom Fields Garden Centre has provided our 4 corners (King/Mill St) with beautiful planter pots. Jane Black cleaned out the planters boxes at Beaver St. Our volunteer Pat will be filling the boxes with our summer flowers and has arranged the hanging baskets from the Garden Path this year. After the success of the Christmas/winter planters that Bloom Fields offered to BIA businesses, they are doing a Summer Planter. Details will be sent out shortly. Advertising: On Instagram, we reached 1234 accounts. Facebook post reach 3519 accounts. Interactions, comments, likes and shares were 1057, with 45 new followers Top posts on Instagram: 5 things to do on March break - 406 reach Reasons to shop small - 323 reach Easter Hunt- 321 reach Newcastle Griddle getting patio ready - 320 reach Top posts in Facebook: Easter Hunt Map - 1378 reach 5 things to do on March break - 1168 reach Easter hunt 1 week away- 909 reach Happy Ramadan - 825 reach Page 70 Special Events: Easter Scavenger Hunt (Saturday, March 30th 11-3pm) It was a great turn out. There were lots of people on the streets and in the businesses. There were 37 businesses that participated! Thank you to the Gift of Art staff and volunteers for all your hard work organizing and planning a successful event! Harvest Festival (Saturday, October 5th, 9am- 3pm) The committee had their first meeting and are looking at eliminating costly activities with new ideas. There will be Newcastle clothing available to purchase that day. Community Hall Lighting n/a Santa Parade (Sunday, November 17th, 5:30pm) They have met and have new volunteers coming out to join the committee Santa Breakfast (Sunday, December 1 st, 8-11 am) n/a Canada Day (Monday, July 1st) n/a 8. CBOT: Last week they hosted with Durham College Employment Services a very successful and well attended job fair with over 500 people. The next Job Fair is planned for October 10th at Garnet B. Rickard. Their Annual Golf tournament is June 11th at Newcastle Golf, if you would like to participate OR donate a prize feel free to contact rhonda@cbot.ca 9. Newcastle & District Chamber of Commerce Their annual marketing challenge with Durham College was a great day and the students were all amazing. Watch for their shop local for Mother's Day advertising campaign in the mail later this month. Page 71 10. CIP/Economic Development/Street Scape: The temporary patio program is now live and available to apply, if you are considering a seasonal patio check out their website clarington.ca for more info. The CIP grant is available if you are doing any facade or accessibility updates to your business, there is money to help with those costs. The Municipal Streetscape update will be presented at our June meeting, come out and see what changes will be made and how the construction may affect your business. 11. New Business: The BIA will sponsor $500.00 to the 2024 Concerts in the Park Moved by: Theresa Vanhaverbeke Seconded by: Marni Lewis carried Theresa will look into getting a lock box for the BIA storage unit. We would like to store the clothing in totes in the unit and need easy access to it. 12. Motion to Adjourn: Moved by: Doug Sirrs Seconded: Tracey Yates Page 72