2. PROVINCIAL POLICY STATEMENT (PPS) 2014
Provincial Policy Statement 2014 was issued under section 3 of the Planning Act and came into effect April 30, 2014. The PPS 2014 applies to all decisions in respect of the exercise of any authority that affects a planning matter made on or after April 30, 2014, including this application.
The Provincial Policy Statement provides direction on matters of provincial interest related to land use planning and development and sets the policy foundation for regulating the development and use of land in Ontario.
In making the determination whether the requested Zoning By-law Amendment and draft Plan of Subdivision are consistent with PPS 2014, a number of policies of the PPS 2014 are relevant for the discussion and have been considered in the Planning Rationale Report (PRR) dated July 2, 2019, prepared by the applicant’s planning consultant. Pages 16 to 24 of the PRR contain the planning consultant’s summary of the key policy considerations of the PPS as it relates to the proposed development on the subject land. I have reviewed the planning consultant’s summary on pages 16 to 24 of the PRR and I am providing complementary planning analysis to what the planning consultant has already stated in the PRR.
“Efficient land use and development patterns support sustainability by promoting strong, liveable, healthy and resilient communities, protecting the environment and public health and safety, and facilitating economic growth”, 1.0 Building Strong Healthy Communities, PPS 2014.
The PPS points to the important role of land use planning in achieving strong healthy communities, a healthy environment and economic growth.
Policy 1.1.1 outlines specific land use planning activities and values that are known to continuously keep communities healthy, liveable and safe.
1.1.1 of the PPS states that “Healthy, liveable and safe communities are sustained by:
- promoting efficient development and land use patterns which sustain the financial well-being of the Province and municipalities over the long term;
- accommodating an appropriate range and mix of residential (including second units, affordable housing and housing for older persons),... and other uses to meet long-term needs;
- avoiding development and land use patterns which may cause environmental or public health and safety concerns;
- 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;
- promoting cost-effective development patterns and standards to minimize land consumption and servicing costs;
- improving accessibility for persons with disabilities and older persons by identifying, preventing and removing land use barriers which restrict their full participation in society;
- 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
- promoting development and land use patterns that conserve biodiversity and consider the impacts of a changing climate.”