New Ontario Legislation Settlement Areas and Settlement Area Boundary Expansion
The policies relating to settlement areas and settlement area boundary expansions were revised substantially. Under the PPS 2024, a new settlement area or expansion may occur at any time provided that planning authorities consider the following criteria:
- The need to designate and plan for additional land to accommodate an appropriate range and mix of land uses;
- If there is sufficient existing or planned capacity of infrastructure and public service facilities;
- Whether lands are specialty crop areas;
- The evaluation of alternative locations which avoid prime agricultural areas and, where avoidance is not possible, whether there are reasonable alternatives on lower priority agricultural lands in prime agricultural areas;
- Whether the new or expanded settlement area complies with the minimum distance separation formulae;
- 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
- Whether the new or expanded settlement area provides for the phased progression of urban development.
This revision, along with the changes to the Planning Act that permit appeals of settlement boundary expansions, will make it easier for landowners to submit applications to bring their lands within the settlement area boundary.
In relation to settlement areas more generally, in previous drafts of the Provincial Planning Statement, new policy 2.3.1.4 “encouraged” planning authorities to establish and implement minimum targets for intensification and redevelopment within built-up areas, based on local conditions; however in the final PPS 2024, policy 2.3.1.4 directs that planning authorities “shall” establish and implement these minimum targets.