This job aid has been developed for education and training purposes as a high-level summary of the policy changes in the PPS 2014. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for specialized legal or professional advice in connection with any particular matter. The Ministry does not accept legal responsibility for its contents or for any consequences, including direct or indirect liability, arising from its use. Note: The policies referenced below are not intended to be an exhaustive list. Only the most relevant policies are identified as examples. Wise Use of Land Promoting development that is financially viable over its life-cycle (i.e. asset management) Enhanced tests for settlement area expansions Promoting densities and a mix of land uses within settlement areas which support active transportation, transit and the efficient movement of goods Clarifying that the studies needed to support comprehensive reviews for small boundary expansions and employment area conversions may be less complex than those for large projects Clarifying that 20-year time horizon for land designation does not limit planning beyond 20 years for infrastructure and public service facilities Policies 1.1.3.8, 1.1.6.4, 1.6.1.a Policy 1.1.3.8, definition of comprehensive review Policies 1.1.3.2.a, 1.4.3.d, 1.6.7.4, 1.8.1 Policy 1.1.3.8, definition of comprehensive review Policy 1.1.2 Healthy, Liveable and Safe Communities Promoting land use and development patterns that: conserve biodiversity consider climate change impacts support active transportation (e.g., walking and cycling) and transit Promoting well-designed communities and planning for all ages Policies 1.1.1.h, 1.1.4.1.h, 1.6.1, 1.7.1.j, 3.1.3, 1.1.3.2.a, 1.4.3.d, 1.5.1.a, 1.6.5, 1.6.7.4, 1.8.1.b, definition of active transportation Policy 1.1.1.b, 1.7.1.d, vision Page 1
Recognizing places of worship, cemeteries and long-term care homes as important components of communities Policy 1.1.1.b Recognizing the importance of protected areas, parks, recreation and trails Policies 1.1.1.b, 1.5.1 Promoting coordination between municipalities and other levels of government, agencies and boards Policy 1.2.1 Encouraging coordination of emergency management planning with other planning considerations Policy 1.2.3 Promoting co-location of public facilities accessible by active transportation and transit and connectivity among transportation modes and Policies 1.6.5, 1.6.7.3 Northern and Rural Communities Providing policy distinction between rural areas and rural lands and policy direction for both Policies 1.1.4, 1.1.5, definition of rural lands and rural areas Recognizing the distinct and diverse nature of rural and northern communities Policies 1.1.4, 1.1.5 Recognizing the economic importance of rural areas to the provincial economy and quality of life, and the interdependence of rural and urban areas Clarifying that municipalities can determine the appropriate locations for required intensification and redevelopment opportunities, and that locally determined intensification targets should be based on local conditions Specifically recognizing recreational dwellings, home occupations, home industries and cemeteries as permitted uses on rural lands in municipalities Promoting rural economies and agricultural viability in rural areas including diversification of the economic base Policy 1.1.4 preamble Policies 1.1.3.3, 1.1.3.5 Policy 1.1.5.2 Policy 1.1.4.1 Page 2
Economy and Employment Protecting employment areas in proximity to major goods movement facilities and corridors for goods movement Protecting rail and marine facilities from incompatible uses Clarifying that municipalities may plan for future employment areas beyond 20 years as long as the lands are not designated Policy 1.3.2.3, definition of major goods movement facilities Policy 1.6.9.1, definition of rail facilities and marine facilities Policy 1.3.2.4 Promoting economic development opportunities, investment-ready communities, mixed-use development, and place-making Recognizing the importance of local food and agri-product businesses to long-term economic prosperity Recognizing the importance of efficient and coordinated communications infrastructure Enhancing the protection of major industries and facilities from new and incompatible uses on surrounding lands that can impact their ability to continue or expand Policies 1.3.1, 1.7.1 Policy 1.7.1.h Policy 1.7.1.k Policy 1.2.6.1 Infrastructure Recognizing asset management as a strategy demonstrating the long-term financial viability of infrastructure Identifying new requirements for stormwater management planning with an emphasis on low impact development and stormwater attenuation and re-use through green infrastructure approaches Protecting the long-term operation and economic role of major facilities, including rail and marine facilities Policy 1.6.1.a, definition of comprehensive review Policy 1.6.6.7 Policy 1.2.6.1, definitions of major facilities, rail facilities, marine facilities Page 3
Promoting green infrastructure, the adaptive re-use of infrastructure, and efficient and coordinated communications/ telecommunications infrastructure Policies 1.6.2, 1.6.3, 1.7.1.k, definition of green infrastructure Reinforcing the linkages between electricity planning and land use planning, and recognizing the role that electricity generation facilities and transmission systems play in maintaining a strong economy Policies 1.1,1.g, 1.2.1.d, 1.6.1, 1.7 Clarifying the sewage and water servicing hierarchy Policies 1.6.6.2 to 1.6.6.5 Allowing infill and minor rounding out in settlement areas on septic tanks and wells where sewer and water services are not provided (i.e. five lot limit for development on private servicing removed), and requiring development on private service to demonstrate it will not negatively impact surface and ground water Clarifying that planning for infrastructure and public service facilities may extend beyond the 20-year horizon Policies 1.6.6.4, 1.6.6.5 Policy 1.1.2 Transportation Corridors and Freight Movement Providing stronger protection for provincially-planned transportation corridors at an earlier stage in the planning process Protecting major goods movement facilities and corridors for the long term and promoting land use compatibility adjacent to corridors Policy 1.6.8.3, definition of planned corridor Policy 1.6.8.3, definition of major goods movement facilities and corridors Promoting freight-supportive land use patterns and densities within settlement areas Policy 1.1.3.2.a.6, definition of freight supportive Recognizing transportation demand management as a strategy supporting the efficient use of transportation infrastructure Policy 1.6.7.2, definition of transportation demand management Page 4
Housing Recognizing that housing needs should be addressed in accordance with the Ontario Housing Policy Statement Policy 1.2.1.h Requiring planning authorities to provide for a mix, in addition to a range, of housing types and densities Policy 1.4.3 Promoting second units, affordable housing, and housing for older persons as important components of an appropriate range and mix of housing types Policies 1.1.1.b, 1.4.3.b.2 Promoting densities for new housing which support the use of active transportation and transit Policy 1.4.3.d Clarifying that: local municipalities determine appropriate locations for intensification and that intensification targets are based on local conditions planning authorities shall ensure that specified targets for intensification and redevelopment are achieved prior to, or concurrent with, new development within designated growth areas Policies 1.1.3.3, 1.1.3.5 Policy 1.1.3.7.a Air Quality and Climate Change Promoting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change adaptation through supportive land use and development patterns Policies 1.1.1.h, 1.8.1 Promoting green infrastructure Policy 1.6.2, definition of green infrastructure Requiring consideration of climate change impacts that may increase the risk associated with natural hazards Policy 3.1.3 Page 5
Energy Promoting land use and development patterns which maximize energy efficiency and conservation Policy 1.8.1 Recognizing district energy as a means of providing energy supply Policy 1.7.1.i Promoting renewable energy and alternative energy systems, where feasible (i.e. better alignment with the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009) Policies 1.6.11.2 Clarifying linkages between electricity planning and land use planning Policies 1.1,1.g, 1.2.1.d, 1.6.1, 1.7 Coordination Promoting coordination with other orders of government, agencies and boards and Aboriginal communities Promoting coordination on additional matters including economic development strategies, multimodal transportation systems, Great Lakes related issues, housing needs, and emergency management Acknowledging that the PPS must be implemented in a manner consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the recognition of Aboriginal and treaty rights in the Constitution Act, 1982 Policies 1.2.1, 1.2.2 Policies 1.2.1, 1.2.3 Policies 4.3, 4.6 Natural Heritage Systems and Features Recognizing the importance of protecting the health of the Great Lakes and conserving biodiversity Protecting all coastal wetlands in Ecoregions 5E, 6E, and 7E that are not already protected as significant coastal wetlands Vision, 2.0 Preamble Policy 2.1.4, 2.1.5.f Requiring identification of natural heritage systems in southern Ontario (ie. Ecoregions 6E and 7E) Policy 2.1.3 Page 6
Enhancing the definition of natural heritage systems to specifically reference connectivity, other types of protected areas, areas that support hydrologic functions and working landscapes Clarifying that natural heritage systems may vary in size and form across settlement areas, rural areas and prime agricultural areas Refining the area of protection of significant woodlands and valleylands in southern Ontario (Ecoregions 6E and 7E) on an ecosystem basis Definition of natural heritage systems Policy 2.1.3 Policies 2.1.5 Aligning policies for endangered and threatened species with federal and provincial legislation Policy 2.1.7 Water Promoting integrated and long-term planning as the foundation for considering the cumulative impacts of development on the watershed Policy 2.2.1.a Requiring identification of shoreline areas as surface water features Policy 2.2.1.c Requiring consideration of environmental lake capacity for development along inland lakes in the Precambrian Shield Policy 2.2.1.g Encouraging planning authorities to consider agreements related to the protection or restoration of the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin Requiring development on private servicing to demonstrate it will not negatively impact surface and ground water Policy 4.13 Policy 1.6.6.4, 1.6.6.5, definition of negative impacts Page 7
Agriculture Requiring designation of prime agricultural areas Policy 2.3.2 Replacing term secondary uses with on-farm diversified uses to provide increased flexibility for onfarm uses, while retaining the requirement that they are secondary to the principal agricultural use of the property Providing flexibility for larger agriculture-related uses to service the broader farming community Removing references to small scale for both on-farm diversified uses and agriculture-related uses Recognizing that Class 4-7 lands may be included in the delineation of prime agricultural areas Clarifying that agricultural uses in and adjacent to natural heritage features and areas may continue, while maintaining environmental protections Policy 2.3.3.1, definition of onfarm diversified uses Definition of agriculture-related uses Definitions of on-farm diversified uses and agriculture-related uses Policy 2.3.1, definition of prime agricultural areas Policy 2.1.9 Protecting agricultural uses from impacts of non-farm development in prime agricultural areas Policies 2.3.6.1, 2.3.6.2 Supporting agricultural uses in rural areas Policy 1.1.5.8 Limiting surplus farm residence lots to a minimum size needed to accommodate appropriate sewage and water services Policy 2.3.4.1.c Page 8
Minerals, Petroleum and Aggregate Resources Requiring identification of mineral mining operations and petroleum resources Policy 2.4.2.1 Requiring identification of mineral aggregate resources, where provincial information is available Policy 2.5.1 Defining adjacent lands of known deposits of mineral aggregate resources Promoting comprehensive rehabilitation planning Supporting the conservation of mineral aggregate resources and aggregate recycling Policy 2.5.2.3 Further limiting aggregate extraction below the water table in specialty crop areas Policy 2.4.2.2, 2.5.2.5, definition of adjacent lands Policy 2.5.3.2, definition of comprehensive rehabilitation Policy 2.5.4.1.b Strengthening requirements for rehabilitation of aggregate extraction sites in speciality crop areas Policy 2.5.4.1 Cultural Heritage and Archaeology Directing planning authorities to consider the interests of Aboriginal communities when conserving cultural heritage and archaeological resources Promoting the conservation of cultural heritage and archaeological resources, including the use of archaeological management plans and cultural plans Policy 2.6.5 Policy 2.6.4 Recognizing the importance of conserving features that help define community character, such as built heritage resources and landscapes Policy 1.7.1.d Page 9
Public Health and Safety Adding wildland fire as a new category of natural hazard Policy 3.1.8, definition for hazardous forest types for wildland fire Requiring planning authorities to consider the potential impacts of climate change that may increase the risk associated with natural hazards Clarifying that institutional uses and essential emergency services are not permitted in hazardous lands or on hazardous sites Clarifying that development should not aggravate existing hazards or create new hazards that may increase risk to public health, safety or property Policy 3.1.3 Policies 3.1.5.a and 3.1.5.b 3.0 Preamble Questions can be directed to one of the regional offices of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing: Eastern Municipal Services Office Rockwood House, 8 Estate Lane, Kingston K7M 9Ax General Inquiry: 613-545-2100 Toll Free: 1-800-267-9438 Fax: 613-548-6822 Western Municipal Services Office 2nd Floor, 659 Exeter Rd., London N6E 1L3 General Inquiry: 519-873-4020 Toll Free: 1-800-265-4736 Fax: 519-873-4018 Central Municipal Services Office 777 Bay St, 2 nd Floor, Toronto, M5G 2E5 General Inquiry: 416-585-6226 Toll Free: 1-800-668-0230 Fax: 416-585-6882 Northeastern Municipal Services Office Suite 401, 159 Cedar St., Sudbury, P3E 6A5 General Inquiry: 705-564-0120 Toll Free: 1-800-461-1193 Fax: 705-564-6863 Northwestern Municipal Services Office Suite 223, 435 James St S., Thunder Bay, P7E 6S7 General Inquiry: 807-475-1651 Toll Free: 1-800-465-5027 Fax: 807-475-1196 Page 10