Hamilton’s Growth Plan Experience: A Work in Progress Steve Robichaud Director of Planning and Chief Planner City of Hamilton

What did the pre-Growth Plan planning world look like in the City of Hamilton? Less Control around Urban Boundary Expansion Fewer Rules around Employment Land Conversion Less Planning Direction in the Rural Area GRIDS (growth strategy) in process Social Development Strategy not completed No Infrastructure / Transportation Master Plans

What did the introduction of the Growth Plan mean for Hamilton? Population and employment forecasts Intensification and density targets Strict criteria for urban boundary expansion Restrictions on employment land conversion Direction on integrated planning

What did the introduction of the Growth Plan mean for Hamilton? The City implemented the new Growth Plan requirements through the approval of GRIDS and the adoption of the Urban Hamilton Official Plans.

HAMILTON GROWTH FORECAST: 2016 - 2031 An increase of 122,000 people for a total population of 680,000 people An increase of 107,000 jobs for a total employment of 310,000 jobs An increase of 100,000 people for a total population of 780,000 people An increase of 40,000 jobs for a total employment of 350,000 jobs HAMILTON GROWTH FORECAST: 2031- 2041

How has Hamilton grown since 2006? Population Comparison to Provincial Population Forecasts: PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PLANNING DIVISION

How has Hamilton Grown since 2006? Employment Employment Growth, 2006 – 2016: Comparison to Provincial Employment Forecasts: PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PLANNING DIVISION

How has Hamilton grown since 2006? Intensification Required Intensification in Built-up Area From To Intensification Requirement Present 2021* 40% 2021 2031 50% 2041 60% The intensification target requires a certain percentage of new residential units to be constructed each year within the built-up area.

How much intensification has Hamilton been experiencing? 2013 2014 2015 2016 Yearly Intensification Rate (%)* *Number of units constructed within built boundary/Total number of units constructed

How has Hamilton grown since 2006? Designated Greenfield Areas The City’s planned density of its Designated Greenfield Area (DGA) lands, as of 2016, is 56 persons and jobs per hectare (pjh). The DGA density target under the new Growth Plan has increased from 50 pjh to 60 pjh. PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PLANNING DIVISION

How has the City been implementing the Growth Plan objectives?

How has the City been implementing the Growth Plan objectives?

How has the City been implementing the Growth Plan objectives? Centennial Neighbourhoods Secondary Plan

How has the City been implementing the Growth Plan objectives? Centennial Neighbourhoods Secondary Plan

Thoughts on Implementation to Date: City is making progress on targets – trends are going up Employment forecast must be reviewed 10 years is too early to judge success or failure (draft plan example) Urban structure is meant to be achieved by horizon of the plan PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PLANNING DIVISION

Looking ahead: Thoughts on the 2017 Growth Plan Concern that ‘big picture’ planning is being forgotten – instead focussing on a planning by numbers or checklist approach Some improvements with the revised plan: Strategic growth areas as areas to focus intensification ability to remove employment areas from the greenfield density calculation; expansion of Greenbelt policies to whitebelt lands PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PLANNING DIVISION

Looking ahead: Thoughts on the 2017 Growth Plan City has also highlighted concerns with a number of issues with new Growth Plan: MTSA delineation targets are high – 80 pjh at urban edge, 60% intensification will be a challenge MCR process has expanded to include extra parts, including a housing strategy and employment strategy – phasing of the MCR would assist municipalities PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PLANNING DIVISION

MTSA Planning

MTSA Boundaries and Intensification Areas MTSA Boundary Intensification Area Intensification to be focussed in a defined Intensification Area adjacent to the Corridor

MTSA Boundaries and Intensification Areas Sherman MTSA MTSA Density Target as per 2017 Growth Plan (pjh) Max Density based on entire MTSA boundary (including low density neighbourhoods) Max Density based on Intensification Area only 160 138 345

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