Directions to Amend Official Plan Employment Area Policies: Proposals Report

The amended definition of "area of employment" will come into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor. It is staff's understanding that the Province will bring these Planning Act changes into force on the same date that the PPS comes into effect. The amendment to the provincial definition of "area of employment" would narrow the scope of uses from what is currently permitted in areas of employment. In particular, it would expressly exclude from the definition institutional uses and commercial uses, including retail and office uses that are not associated with manufacturing, warehousing, and research and development in connection with manufacturing. For the City's Employment Areas to continue to benefit from the current employment protection policies, land use permissions for these areas must align with the amended definition of "area of employment". Doing so will mean that the City will need to limit some of the broader Official Plan employment permissions in General Employment Areas and Core Employment Areas. This report also provides an update on the Council direction to staff to undertake a study to consider expanding permitted uses in Employment Areas to include places of assembly, places of worship, and sports facilities on a site or area-specific basis.