Applicable PPS Sections:

1.1.1 Healthy, liveable and safe communities are sustained by:

  1. . promoting efficient development and land use patterns which sustain the financial well-being of the Province and municipalities over the long term;
  2. accommodating an appropriate range and mix of residential (including second units, affordable housing and housing for older persons), employment (including industrial and commercial), institutional (including places of worship, cemeteries and long-term care homes), recreation, park and open space, and other uses to meet long-term needs;
  3. avoiding development and land use patterns which may cause environmental or public health and safety concerns;
  4. avoiding development and land use patterns that would prevent the efficient expansion of settlement areas in those areas which are adjacent or close to settlement areas;
  5. promoting cost-effective development patterns and standards to minimize land consumption and servicing costs;
  6. improving accessibility for persons with disabilities and older persons by identifying, preventing and removing land use barriers which restrict their full participation in society;
  7. ensuring that necessary infrastructure, electricity generation facilities and transmission and distribution systems, and public service facilities are or will be available to meet current and projected needs; and
  8. promoting development and land use patterns that conserve biodiversity and consider the impacts of a changing climate.

1.1.3.1 Settlement areas shall be the focus of growth and development, and their vitality and regeneration shall be promoted.

1.1.3.2 Land use patterns within settlement areas shall be based on:

a. densities and a mix of land uses which:

  1. efficiently use land and resources;
  2. are appropriate for, and efficiently use, the infrastructure and public service facilities which are planned or available, and avoid the need for their unjustified and/or uneconomical expansion;
  3. minimize negative impacts to air quality and climate change, and promote energy efficiency; 
  4. support active transportation;
  5. transit-supportive, where transit is planned, exists or may be developed;
  6. and are freight-supportive; and

. a range of uses and opportunities for intensification and redevelopment in accordance with the criteria in policy 1.1.3.3, where this can be accommodated.

1.1.3.3 Planning authorities shall identify appropriate locations and promote opportunities for intensification and redevelopment where this can be accommodated taking into account existing building stock or areas, including brownfield sites, and the availability of suitable existing or planned infrastructure and public service facilities required to accommodate projected needs.