Town Urban Design Guidelines Update Well Underway!

• First Public Information Session took place on Thursday, December 8^th, 2022
• The session introduced the project to residents and stakeholders, presented the consultant’s findings during their Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis, and obtained initial feedback, comments, concerns, and opportunities on urban design in New Tecumseth
• The Town’s consultant will be providing a detailed Needs Assessment Report by the end of the month, stay tuned!
• For more information about the Public Information Session and the project in general, please visit https://www.newtecumseth.ca/urbandesign
• Please join the project mailing list! To do so, please send your interest to the email: urbandesign@newtecumseth.ca

Upcoming Reports at Committee of the Whole January 16, 2023

• Short and Long-Term Parking Solutions for the Downtowns and Residential Areas of Alliston, Beeton and Tottenham
  • Two staff led parking studies conducted that analyzed perceived and real parking issues within the downtowns and urban residential areas
  • Potential short and long-term parking options are offered for Council’s consideration to provide solutions
  • Recommendation report for a proposed Zoning By-law Amendment for the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation at 72 Queen Street North, Tottenham
    • The application proposes to rezone the residentially used portions of the property from Institutional to Low-Rise Residential with site-specific exceptions to recognize legal non-complying structure
    • Its purpose is to recognize existing land uses and zone the property accordingly
    • No proposed changes to the existing buildings, structures or land use at this time
    • Public Meeting occurred October 5, 2022
    • Application for Draft Plan of Subdivision Extension for 6314 16^th Line, Honey Hill)
      • Request to extend draft plan approval for a period of 3 years until March 2026
      • To provide the proponent with additional time to get the draft plan of subdivision registered
      • Proposed zoning by-law holding (H) provision for Fletcher Meadows Subdivision in Beeton
        • The Hold would be applied to the entire subdivision to ensure full municipal servicing of water and wastewater is available prior to building permits being issued
        • When the Town provides servicing allocation, the owner can request the Hold be removed

New Planning Processes Effective January 1, 2023

• To support the changes made to the Planning Act through Bill 109, the Town has introduced updated planning processes for Planning Act applications
• Pre-consultation is mandatory for all proposed Planning Act applications
• New Pre-consultation Stage 2 for site plans, zoning by-law amendments, official plan amendments and plans of subdivision/ condominium
• For more information, please visit the Town’s Development and Planning webpage:  https://www.newtecumseth.ca/en/business-and-development/developmentandplanning.aspx

Public Meeting Cancelled for January 2023

Updated Community Improvement Plan Now in Effect

• The new and improved Town of New Tecumseth Community Improvement Plan is now in effect
• The number and types of grants has expanded to include new grants related to Public Art, Privately-Owned Public Spaces, Heritage as well as a new suite of Catalytic Grants which use a Tax Increment Equivalency Grant to help support rental and business development
• The geographic area of some of the grants apply outside of the downtowns of Alliston, Beeton, and Tottenham
• From 2006 to 2020, 47 businesses received grants totally over $589,000 demonstrating the Town’s commitment and investment into communities
• If you are interested in a potential grant, please fill out the Expression of Interest form on the webpage and someone from Planning will happily follow-up with you
• We encourage you to check out the new Town webpage on the Community Improvement Plan grants: 

https://www.newtecumseth.ca/en/business-and-development/incentive-programs-community-improvement-plan.aspx

Four Settlement Area Boundary Expansion Applications Submitted

• Cooperglen Estates and Rayville Developments have submitted settlement area boundary expansion requests for two areas north of Alliston of 28 hectares and 35 hectares respectfully
  • Cooperglen Estates proposing 286 units of single detached and townhouses
  • Rayville Developments proposing 547 units of single and semi-detached and townhouses
• GB (Alliston) Inc. has submitted two separate settlement area boundary expansion requests for lands located northwest of Alliston of approximately 40 hectares each consisting of low and medium density residential development, school, parks and a woodlot
• Outside of the Municipal Comprehensive Review process, the Provincial Growth Plan allows for the submission of settlement area boundary expansions of less than 40 hectares
• The proposals have been circulated for internal and external agency review
• Public meetings for these applications will be scheduled in the coming months

Planning Department is Growing to Fill Vacant Positions

• Recently, some new staff have joined the Planning Department to fill some vacant positions
• Tanya Staels is the new Committee of Adjustment Secretary-Treasurer
• Jeremy Bonham is the new Policy Planner
• Later in January two senior planners will be also joining the team
• Questions related to any of these items can be emailed to Planning.
  

Application Submitted for Commercial Redevelopment to Mid-Rise Residential Development

• Liberty Group has submitted a zoning by-law amendment application for residential development along Young Street at the west end of Alliston where current commercial development is located consisting of 3 restaurants, multi-unit retail plaza and cinema
• Proposed on the site:
  • One 12-storey mid-rise mixed building
  • Two 8-storey mid-rise mixed buildings
  • 37 3-storey townhouses
• The proposed development consists of 696 residential dwelling units ranging in size from one-bedroom to three-bedroom units
• The proposals have been circulated for internal and external agency review
• A  Public meeting will be scheduled in the coming months

Exciting Projects Planned for 2022

• Planning has an ambitious work plan for 2022 consisting of:
  • Commencement of updated Urban Design Guidelines
  • Development of an Indigenous Consultation Policy for planning applications
  • Kick-off of a Climate Change Action Plan
  • Formulation of a work plan to update the Town’s Official Plan to align with the update to the County Official Plan upon conclusion of the County’s Municipal Comprehensive Review

Planning Department is Still Growing to Fill Vacant Positions

• Recently, some new staff have joined the Planning Department to fill some vacant positions
• Laura Brannon and Madeline Gibson are two senior planners who will be working on development applications in addition to some policy projects

Questions related to any of these items can be emailed to Planning. 

New Tecumseth 7th Fastest Growing Municipality in Canada

• Statistics Canada has released some of the Census data for 2021
• New Tecumseth’s population from 2016 of 34,242 increased 28.3% by 2021 for a total population of 43,948 for municipalities within large and small urban centres
• From the number of large and small urban centres, New Tecumseth is the 7th fasting growing municipality in Canada and in Ontario, New Tecumseth is ranked 3rd just behind East Gwillimbury and Blue Mountains
• In 2021, there were 15,854 private dwellings representing a change of an increase of 22.8% from 2016
• In Simcoe County, New Tecumseth, Bradford West Gwillimbury and Wasaga Beach were among the County’s fastest-growing communities
• The key driver of this growth was primarily inter-provincial migration

641 Building Permits Issued in 2021

• Construction value from building permits for the Town of New Tecumseth in 2021 amounted to just over $141 million with the majority from residential development
• Of the 641 building permits issued in 2021, 578 were residential, 27 commercial, 15 industrial, 12 institutional and 9 from agricultural uses
• Between 2020 and 2021 there was a 38% increase in the number of permits issued
• The majority of the new residential building permits issued were in Alliston (318 permits), followed by Tottenham with 72, Beeton with 20 and three issued in the rural area

Ontario Land Tribunal Case Management Hearing on New Zoning By-law

• In mid-March, a Case Management Hearing to start the proceedings at the OLT (Ontario Land Tribunal) on hearing the two appeals to the Town’s New Zoning By-law 2021-128
• At this Hearing, parties will be identified, set future hearing dates and an overview of the case will be provided
• Further updates to the status of the OLT Hearing will be provided in subsequent Planning Updates

Questions related to any of these items can be sent to Planning.

Two Year Restriction on Zoning Amendments and Minor Variances Lifted for New Zoning By-law 

• When a new Zoning By-law is approved, the Planning Act restricts anyone from requesting any zoning by-law amendments or minor variances 
• At the April 4, 2022, Committee of the Whole the two-year restriction was lifted with the final decision ratified at the Town of New Tecumseth Council meeting on April 25, 2022
• For any applicants with applications submitted, this will mean that they can proceed, and future applications can be submitted to the Town

Town Adopts Services from CRINS (Canadian Radiocommunications Information and Notification Service) for Telecommunication Proposals

• CRINS is a non-governmental organization which provides services to municipalities and the public to process and consult on proposed construction of radio-communication sites and antenna tower systems
• In April 2022, Council adopted services from CRINS to provide a higher level of public consultation, reduced staff time, reduction in applications and assurance the Town is up to date with the latest industry standards and federal requirements
• At the May 30, 2022, Council meeting, staff will complete the adoption process by proposing a by-law to Council

Upcoming Meetings

• No public meetings scheduled in May 2022

Changes ahead for Site Plan Proposals Stemming from Bill 109

• Bill 109, More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022 received Royal Ascent in April 2022 and has significant impacts for the Town; future information will be provided in the form of reports to Committee of the Whole in the following months
• Site plan control application approval as of July 1, 2022, will be delegated to staff and is applicable to applications received on or after this date
• At the June 13, 2022, Committee of the Whole meeting, staff will have a report regarding the changes to site plan control due to Bill 109 including the implications for New Tecumseth
• The Town will need to update its Official Plan to include submission requirements for site plan control applications

Wondering what developments are proposed in your community?

• The Town prepares development status maps that are updated quarterly to provide the current approval stage of development for plans of subdivisions
• Some plans of subdivision have been Council approved where all draft plan conditions have been met
• The registered plan of subdivision is a legal document that shows the exact surveyed boundaries and dimensions of lots, location and width of street and sites of the schools or parks. Lots can be sold and building permits applied for after registration

Upcoming Public Planning Meetings

• June 15, 2022 – 4824 Sideroad 20 - Proposal to rezone to permit an on-farm diversified use of a wedding and event venue
• July 13, 2022 - tentative – 119 Queen Street North, Tottenham – Proposal to rezone to permit a children’s daycare facility and future office space within the existing building

The agenda and report will be posted on the Town of New Tecumseth website the Friday afternoon before the scheduled meeting. Request to Speak at a Committee of the Whole Planning Public Meeting.

Proposed Mixed-Use Residential and Commercial Development for Alliston

• At the southwest corner of Victoria St. E (Highway 89) and Industrial Parkway an application for rezoning has been submitted for review
• Proposal includes:
• Nine 6-7 storey multi-residential buildings
• 6 storey hotel
• 8 commercial buildings
• Application is currently being reviewed and a public meeting will be set in the future

Town approves updated Tree By-law and Tree Management Policy with new Technical Tree Guidelines

• The new Tree By-law and Tree Management Policy replace the former Tree and Natural Vegetation Management Policy and By-law
• Purpose is to preserve, protect and enhance the urban forest
• This led to the creation of the Technical Tree Guidelines to assist stakeholders on Town expectations
• Information on the details of the update can be found at the following Trees and Urban Forestry Page: https://www.newtecumseth.ca/en/living-in-our-community/trees-urban-forestry.aspx
• Updated Policy and By-law: https://www.newtecumseth.ca/en/town-hall/by-laws.aspx

Upcoming Public Meetings

• July 13, 2022:
  • 119 Queen Street North, Tottenham – Proposal to rezone to permit a children’s daycare facility and future office space within the existing building
  • 124-146 Young Street, Alliston – Proposal to rezone lands for redevelopment of mixed use and multi-residential uses
  • Town-wide initiated housekeeping Zoning By-law Amendment – Proposal to correct spelling, grammar and typos, updates to performance standards, definitions, and general provisions to provide greater clarity as well as the addition of, or removal of, uses or provisions to provide greater flexibility and clarity where issues have occurred

Planning Public Meetings are Now In-Person

• As of August 1, 2022, all Council meetings including Committee of the Whole and Planning Public Meetings will be conducted in-person
• All committee and board meetings facilitated by Town staff will continue to be conducted remotely (Zoom) and broadcast on YouTube

Bill 109 Site Plan Requirements Proposed in Town-wide update to the Official Plan

• A Planning Public Meeting will be held on August 24, 2022, to hear a Town initiated proposed Official Plan Amendment that will include the following:
  • Implementing and updating minimum submission requirements for Site Plan Control applications because of Bill 109 – More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022
  • Implementing and updating minimum submission requirements for official plan amendments, zoning by-law amendments, plans of subdivision/condominium and applications for consent

Have Your Say – Urban Residential Parking Survey

• Planning has initiated an urban residential parking survey to better understand parking alternatives in the communities of Alliston, Beeton and Tottenham
• Survey is closing soon! Your input counts! Totally Anonymous!
• Comments must be made through the link as comments on social media will not be recorded. https://bit.ly/3aTvnLk

Upcoming Public Meetings

• August 24, 2022:
  • Town-wide proposed Official Plan Amendment on Bill 109
  • Proposed Zoning By-law Amendment for 689 Victoria St. E., Alliston to permit the development of a mixed-use residential and commercial building comprising of nine 6-7 storey multi-residential buildings, a six storey hotel, and eight commercial buildings

Climate Change Survey Campaign

• New Tecumseth is embarking on a Community Climate Change Action Plan
• Have Your Say on climate change that will help to inform the development of the Community Climate Change Action Plan
• The second of three mini-surveys is now live. The final survey will be available from Thursday, September 8. Please note that comments on social media will not be recorded.
• Link to the survey:   https://s.surveyplanet.com/y0ysbun4

DTAH and Lura Consulting Retained to Undertake Updated Town Urban Design Guidelines

• The Town’s 2012 Urban Design Guidelines are being updated
• Key objectives are innovative, comprehensive, and high-quality Urban Design Guidelines for the 3 urban communities and rural areas
• Includes a creative and engaging education and awareness campaign
• Stay tuned for engagement opportunities!

Upcoming Public Meetings – Now In-person

• September 14, 2022:
  • Proposed Zoning By-law Amendment for 4981 10^th Sideroad, to rezone the lands from Agricultural One (A1) to a site specific Low-Rise Residential Zone to permit the development of a townhouse row of 8 units fronting onto Lorne Thomas Place. This rezoning is intended to help complete the overall subdivision development in the Treetops/Belterra development

Town Urban Design Guidelines – Call to Action

• Town is embarking on updated Urban Design Guidelines, so stay tuned for a dedicated webpage coming soon
• Call to Action for the development community – if interested in participating in the Urban Design Guidelines project, please contact – urbandesign@newtecumseth.ca

Planning Application Tracking System Commenced

• The PLL (Planning, Land and Licensing) application tracking system is now underway in the Planning Department
• Anticipated to be finalized October 2023
• New service delivery model to provide improved service for the processing of planning applications
• PLL already completed for Building and By-law Departments

Nailed It! Upgraded Building Department Webpage is Launched!

• Redesigned webpage offers quick and easy access to essential information and features that offers a more comprehensive understanding of the steps in the building permit process
• Visit the Building and Renovating Webpage today!

Do Your Part to Help Inform the Update to the Town Urban Design Guidelines!

Upcoming Public Information Session

• First Public Information Session scheduled for Thursday, December 8^th, 2022
• Location: Tottenham Community & Fitness Centre, 139 Queen St. N., Tottenham
• Afternoon session begins at 2PM and is for stakeholder groups and businesses. If you think this should include you, please email urbandesign@newtecumseth.ca to be added to our stakeholder list
• An evening public open house session begins at 6PM
• Drinks and light snacks will be provided
• The purpose of the session is to introduce the project to residents and stakeholders, present the consultants findings during their Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis, and to obtain initial feedback, comments, concerns, and opportunities on urban design in New Tecumseth
• For more information about the Public Information Session and the project in general, please visit https://www.newtecumseth.ca/urbandesign
• Please join the project mailing list! To do so, please send your interest to the email: urbandesign@newtecumseth.ca

More Homes Built Faster Act, Bill 23, is Approved

• The Provincial Government approved Bill 23 known as the More Homes Built Faster Act on November 28, 2022
• A Town staff report was prepared summarizing the key impacts to the Town #PD-2022-43
• Council will ratify the staff report at a Special Council meeting on December 5, 2022 in order to meet the Province’s public comment period that expires December 9
• Council is providing comments to assist with the implementation of the Bill as the regulations on many pieces of legislation have not been released
• The financial impacts are the most significant with an initial estimation of a loss of $50 Million in Development Charges over the next 5 to 10 years
• Existing taxpayers may have to pay for future growth
• Other changes and potential impacts are outlined in the report related to the Planning Act, Conservation Authorities Act, Ontario Heritage Act and other legislation

Community Improvement Plan Projects Completed in 2022

• 2022 was a successful year in the implementation of the newly updated Community Improvement Plan (CIP)
• Commitment of $57,500 for 5 projects in the downtowns of Alliston, Beeton, and Tottenham in 2022
• Most of the projects focused on new signage
• One of the projects is taking advantage of multiple grants to update a building with respect to signage, lighting, Building Code upgrades, additional upper storey apartment unit, upgrades to a future commercial space on the main floor and replacement of doors and windows – it will be a full transformation at 95 Victoria Street West, Alliston.
• In early 2023 Planning Staff will bring forward a report to Council providing a status update on the CIP, outlining a marketing plan and a request to make some minor changes to the CIP Plan

Public Meeting December 14, 2022, 6:00 PM

• Proposed zoning by-law amendment (File DEV 427) for Belterra/Treetops development in Alliston to align the current Low Rise Residential zone symbols to the recent changes to the Plan of Subdivision for Phase 5
• Proposed zoning by-law amendment (File DEV 426) for Simcoe Village in Beeton to change the zoning to a new site-specific zone entitled Public Use (PU) to support the development of a County of Simcoe long-term care campus in terms of permitted uses and permitting a maximum building height of 6 storeys

Comprehensive Zoning By-law Final Draft Ready for Approval

• On August 23, 2021, Council members and the public were presented with the Final Draft of the update to the Town’s Zoning By-law
• It will be considered for final approval at the upcoming September 13, 2021 Council Meeting
• Link to Comprehensive Zoning By-law Update 
  

Interim Control By-law for Cannabis Operations Expiring Soon

• At the August 25, 2021 Public Planning Meeting, a preferred zoning option was presented for Council and public input on regulating cannabis production facilities in the Town
• Coming up at the September 13, 2021 Committee of the Whole meeting, it is anticipated that a draft zoning by-law will be presented for consideration based upon the feedback received from the Public Meeting
• The Interim Control By-law is set to expire on October 1, 2021
• Link to Interim Control By-law for Cannabis Operations
  
  

Main Street Meadows - Beeton to be Heard at Upcoming Public Planning Meeting

• The Town has received a proposed plan of subdivision application for the lands on the west side of Beeton just outside of the community’s settlement boundary
• Development proposal for a 980 unit residential development and 1 commercial block on 166 hectares consisting of 287 single detached dwellings, 42 semi-detached dwellings, 251 street townhouses and 400 purpose-built seniors rental apartment units
• The Statutory Public Planning Meeting is scheduled for October 20, 2021 providing opportunity for members of Council and the public to comment on the proposed subdivision
• Link to Ministry approved Zoning for Main Street Meadows

Lots of Interest Expressed by Landowners for Settlement Area Boundary Expansions

• Simcoe County staff at County Committee of the Whole on August 10, 2021 presented a report on the Municipal Comprehensive Review to provide an interim update on current interest expressed for settlement area boundary expansions
• On September 13 at Committee of the Whole Town staff will present an update to the Municipal Comprehensive Review on growth management
• The province allocated population and employment growth to Simcoe County to the year 2051 and this may result in the potential need to expand settlement area boundaries in several communities
• County and Town staff have been tracking requests and to date, 30 requests have been received for lands within New Tecumseth accounting for approximately 3,568 hectares
• Town of New Tecumseth represents 38% of the total number of requests received by the County
• The County staff report and mapping for report number CCW 2021-265, can be found on the County of Simcoe Committee of the Whole Agenda 

Simcoe County Public Information Sessions on the Municipal Comprehensive Review

• The County of Simcoe is undertaking a Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) to update its official plan on how the overall pattern of development and land resource management is planned
• A key component is a Land Needs Assessment to determine how much growth can be accommodated in the existing settlement areas and whether additional land is needed for residential and employment area purposes to the Provincial Growth Plan planning horizon to 2051
• Public Information Sessions are planned for October on specific topics
• Register once per household/organization through Eventbrite: Land Needs Assessment and Growth Management Sessions or Technical Study Sessions

Comprehensive Zoning By-law - Approved!

• The updated Comprehensive Zoning by-law 2021-128 was approved by Council on September 13, 2021
• The last day of appeal is October 12, 2021
• For more information on the update, please go to the Comprehensive Zoning By-Law Update page 

Zoning By-law Amendment approved for Regulating Cannabis Operations

• On September 27, 2021 Council, approved a zoning by-law amendment to regulate Cannabis Operations in the Town
• By-law 2021-136 was approved permitting cannabis production facilities in the EA2 (employment area two) zone subject to a site-specific zoning by-law amendment

Woodington Minister’s Zoning Order Turned Down at Committee of the Whole

• The Town has received a revised Minister’s Zoning Order by Woodington Lake Management Inc. in August 2021  
• On September 27, 2021 the Committee of the Whole turned down the proposal, however the decision will need to be ratified at the October 18, 2021 Council meeting
• The Development proposal was for a 200-bed assisted living facility, mixed use corridor, hotel/spa and conference associated with Woodington Lake Golf Course, 3,250 dwelling units (range of singles, semis, towns and apartments), seniors apartments, environmental areas and a municipally owned Biodryer
• The significant difference between earlier versions were the removal of employment lands replaced by additional residential development and the introduction of a Biodryer to manage wastewater

Council Directs Town staff to develop Evaluation Criteria to Assess Settlement Boundary Expansion requests

• On September 27, 2021 Council directed Town staff to take the draft principles and develop them into evaluation criteria to assess the settlement boundary expansion requests
• Council provided input into the draft principles with identifying additional principles, commenting on the draft principles and weighting them
• To date, 31 landowners have made a request to be included in the urban boundaries of Alliston, Beeton and Tottenham
• Evaluation criteria will be developed by staff this fall to be presented to Council for their consideration

No Appeals to Zoning By-law Amendment for Regulating Cannabis Operations

• By-law 2021-136 was approved with no appeals received as it relates to the results of the Cannabis Interim Control By-law Study
• Cannabis production facilities are permitted in the EA2 (employment area two) zone subject to a site-specific zoning by-law amendment
• By-law is in full force and effect as of September 27, 2021

 Comprehensive Zoning By-law Appealed

• Two site-specific appeals have been received to the Comprehensive Zoning By-law. As a result, the entire updated Zoning By-law is on hold.
• The Town’s current Zoning By-law 2014-126 still remains in effect.
• Staff are working with the Town Solicitor on next steps for dealing with the appeals and the approval of the new Zoning By-law.

Simcoe County releases New Tecumseth’s draft Forecast and Land Needs Assessment

• The County of Simcoe is undertaking a Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) to update its official plan, on how the overall pattern of development and land resource management is planned.
• A key component is a Land Needs Assessment to determine how much growth can be accommodated in the existing settlement areas and whether additional land is needed for residential and employment area purposes to the Provincial Growth Plan planning horizon to 2051.
• Simcoe County released the draft population and employment forecast and Land Needs Assessment for both Community Needs (housing needs) and Employment Needs.
  
• New Tecumseth staff are currently assessing the draft document and anticipate presenting a report to Committee of the Whole on this as well as evaluation criteria for settlement boundary expansions by the end of 2021.