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Regional Official Plan Amendments and Amendment Process

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A Regional Official Plan Amendment, or ROPA, is a policy change process that incorporates any proposed changes into the Official Plan. Learn more about ROPA.

Regional Official Plan Amendments (ROPAs) Overview

A Regional Official Plan Amendment, or ROPA, is a policy change process that incorporates any proposed changes into the Regional Official Plan. Halton’s Regional Official Plan may be reviewed and amended for the following reasons:

  • The Ontario Planning Act requires municipal Official Plans to undergo a comprehensive review every five years to ensure they conform with provincial policy.
  • Provincial policies can be introduced that require municipalities to review their Official Plans by certain deadlines.
  • An individual or business applicant applied for an amendment to the Official Plan.

A ROPA can be site-specific or region-wide. The term site-specific means that an amendment that only applies to a certain area of land. Region-wide amendments apply to all of the Region’s land area and are a response to provincial requirements.

ROPA Review Process

Amendments to the Regional Plan are made by Regional Council, and may be initiated by the Region of Halton or by external parties (citizens, developers). Below, learn more about how amendments are considered and approved, depending on their initiators.

Preconsultation Stage

  • Conduct preliminary review of proposal
  • Develop proposed ROPA document
  • Circulate proposed ROPA document to internal and external public bodies for comment

Public Consultation Stage

  • Release proposed ROPA document for public consultation
  • Consult the public about proposed ROPA document
  • Collect and organize comments and revisions to proposed ROPA document
  • Hold mandatory Public Meeting and Open Houses
  • Analyze and formulate Planning Opinion

Approval Stage

  • Seek consideration and recommendation by Region's Planning and Public Works Committee (PPWC)
  • Seek Council consideration and decision
  • Issue Notice of Decision (Appeal Period)
  • Submit ROPA to possible Local Planning Appeal Tribunal Hearing of Appeals

Preconsultation Stage

  • Receive Application, and determine completeness
  • Issue Notice of Complete Application to applicant, public and public bodies
  • Circulate Application to internal and external public bodies for comment
  • Collect and organize comments, and prepare proposed ROPA document

Public Consultation Stage

  • Release proposed ROPA document for public consultation
  • Hold mandatory Public Meeting
  • Analyze and Formulate Planning Opinion

Approval Stage

  • Seek consideration and recommendation by Region's Planning and Public Works Committee (PPWC)
  • Seek Council consideration and decision
  • Issue Notice of Decision (Appeal Period)
  • Submit ROPA to possible Local Planning Appeal Tribunal Hearing of Appeals (applicant may appeal if no decision after 180 days from receipt.)

Current Regional Official Plan Amendments (ROPAs)

Information on Regional Official Plan Amendment (ROPA) applications that are currently under review by the Region is provided below. For information on the ROPAs being advanced as part of the current Regional Official Plan Review (ROPR) process, please visit the ROPR webpage.

Current Status:
Nelson Aggregate Co. has applied to amend the Regional Official Plan to expand its Burlington Quarry by extending the license and extraction areas to the west and south of the existing quarry lands.

Applicant:
Nelson Aggregate Co.

Purpose of the Amendment:
The purpose of the application is to amend the Maps of the Halton Regional Official Plan to permit the expansion of the existing quarry to the west of the current quarry, and across No. 2 Sideroad to the south of the current quarry.

Background:
All information about this application is posted to Halton Region’s mineral aggregates webpage.

Current Status:
Dufferin Aggregates, a division of CRH Canada Group Inc., has applied to amend the Regional Official Plan to expand its Milton Quarry by extending the license and extraction areas to the east of the existing extension quarry lands.

Applicant:
Dufferin Aggregates, a division of CRH Canada Group Inc.

Purpose of the Amendment:
The purpose of the application is to amend the Maps of the Halton Regional Official Plan to permit the expansion of the existing quarry.

Background:
All information about this application is posted to Halton Region’s mineral aggregates webpage.

Past Regional Official Plan Amendments (ROPAs)

This list is intended for information and archival purposes. Should you need a copy or additional information on any ROPA, please email accesshalton@halton.ca or call 905-825-6000/toll-free 1-866-442-5866 to contact the Planning Services division. 

  • ROPA 52 (June 2022) – An Amendment to Address the Addition of Employment Lands to the Urban Area and to the Town of Milton’s ‘401 Industrial/Business Park Secondary Plan’
  • ROPA 51 (June 2022) – Milton Education Village ROPA
  • ROPA 49 (June 2022) – An Amendment to Implement the Integrated Growth Management Strategy
  • ROPA 48 (July 2021) – An Amendment to Define a Regional Urban Structure
  • ROPA 47 (April 2018) – An Amendment to Address a Shortfall of Employment Lands in the Town of Halton Hills’ Premier Gateway Employment Area
  • ROPA 46 (January 2018) – Lot Creation Policy to Permit Surplus Farm Dwelling Severances
  • ROPA 45 (September 2015) – Re-designation of Formerly Licenced Aggregate Extraction Lands at 12519 Eighth Line, Halton Hills
  • ROPA 43 (June 2014) – Halton Peel Boundary Area Transportation Study / Greater Toronto Area West Corridor Protection
  • ROPA 41 (October 2012) – Town of Milton 2015 Pan / Parapan American Games Velodrome
  • ROPA 40 (July 2010) – Servicing Public Uses Outside the Urban Area
  • ROPA 39 (June 2011) – Regional Development Phasing to 2031
  • ROPA 38 (December 2009)– An Amendment to Incorporate the Results of Sustainable Halton, Official Plan Review Directions and Other Matters
  • ROPA 37 – An Amendment to Incorporate the Basic Requirements of the Places to Grow Plan ROPA 34 (October 2007) - Creekbank Developments
  • ROPA 33 (September 2007) - Bill 51 Implementation: Pre-consultation and Submission Requirements
  • ROPA 32 (May 2007) - Hanson Brick Ltd., City of Burlington
  • ROPA 31 (April 2007) - Cemetery, Part Lot 18, Con. 7, Town of Halton Hills
  • ROPA 30 (February 2007) - St. Mathew's Mar Thoma Church
  • ROPA 27 (October 2005) - York Trafalgar Golf Course (Milton)
  • ROPA 25 (June 2004) – An Amendment to Incorporate Official Plan Review Directions and Related Matters
  • ROPA 23 (December 2003) - Functional Plan and Right-of-Way Plan of Arterial Roads
  • ROPA 22 (April 2003) - Functional Plan and Right-of-Way for Bronte Road
  • ROPA 21 (March 2003) - Glencairn Golf Course
  • ROPA 20 (November 2001) - Beaufort Heights Subdivision, Extension of Municipal Wastewater Services
  • ROPA 19 (July 2001) - Trafalgar Sports Park
  • ROPA 18 (June 2003) - Dufferin Aggregates Milton Quarry Expansion
  • ROPA 17 (October 2001) - Functional Classification and Right-of-Way for Trafalgar Road
  • ROPA 16 (January 2001) - 1319536 Ontario Ltd.
  • ROPA 100 (November 2000) - Garden Trail Developments
  • ROPA 12 (June 2000) - DeGroote Property
  • ROPA 11 (April 2000) - James and Helle Fisher Property
  • ROPA 10 (October 2000) - Ontario Mission for the Deaf
  • ROPA 9 (July 1999) - Brockton Farms Sandstone Quarry Expansion
  • ROPA 7 (March 1999) - 751058 Ontario Limited
  • ROPA 6 (May 1999) - 1097739 Ontario Ltd.
  • ROPA 5 (May 2000) - Croatian Franciscan Centre
  • ROPA 4 (December 1998) - Zenon Environmental Inc.
  • ROPA 3 (September 1998) - Driving Range (Halton Hills)
  • ROPA 2 (May 1998) - North Aldershot Policy Area
  • ROPA 1 (August 1996) - Jannock Properties Lands

Recently Approved Regional Official Plan Amendments (ROPAs)

On November 10, 2021, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing approved Regional Official Plan Amendment No. 48 (ROPA 48) with a limited number of changes. The amendment is the first change to the Regional Official Plan that has been approved as part of the Municipal Comprehensive Review. These amendments are made under Section 26 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990. For more information, please visit the ROPA 48 webpage.

On November 4, 2022, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing approved Regional Official Plan Amendment No. 49 (ROPA 49) with forty-five modifications as part of the Municipal Comprehensive Review. This amendment is made under Section 26 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990. For more information, please visit the ROPA 49 webpage.

Current Status:
The proposed Regional Official Plan Amendment has been adopted by Regional Council on June 15, 2022, as Regional Official Plan Amendment (ROPA) 51. The decision to approve the ROPA was deemed final and binding on July 20, 2022. A notice of adoption was issued for RQ62A on June 29, 2022 (PDF file) with the last date of appeal being July 19, 2022. No notices of appeal were received by the Region. Details regarding the amendment are provided below.

Applicant:
The Town of Milton

Purpose of the Amendment:
The purpose of this Amendment is to facilitate development of the Milton Education Village (MEV) lands as a complete, mixed-use and integrated community and ‘innovation district’ anchored by a post-secondary education campus. In particular, the amendment proposes to permit on a site-specific basis a range of uses on lands within the Greenbelt Plan Protected Countryside adjacent to the MEV. The proposed uses are related to and supportive of the MEV and the Wilfred Laurier University campus and include stormwater management infrastructure and uses related to the use of renewable resources.

Background:
The Milton Education Village represents an important and strategic initiative for the Town and Region. It is the focus of a number of longstanding and ongoing planning initiatives aimed at achieving an overall vision for a complete community and mixed-use area anchored by post-secondary education.

The Milton Education Village (MEV) is an area in the Town of Milton located west of Tremaine Road generally between Derry Road to the north and Britannia Road to the south. On its western side, the MEV is adjacent to the Protected Countryside area of the Provincial Greenbelt Plan. The MEV is planned around a vision for a complete community and mixed-use innovation district anchored by a post-secondary education campus. A context map showing the location of the MEV is shown below.

map of milton education village lands

Regional Staff Reports:

Reports in Support of the Application:

Additional Information:

  • This ROPA application is related to the Town of Milton’s Milton Education Village Secondary Plan. For more information on the Secondary Plan, visit the Town’s website at www.milton.ca.

Virtual Statutory Public Meeting

The virtual Statutory Public Meeting held by the Region included a brief presentation and provided the public with an opportunity to provide comments to Regional Council on the proposed Amendment.

Regional Staff Contact:

For more information or to provide comments on the application, please contact:

Owen McCabe
Senior Planner
Owen.McCabe@halton.ca
905-825-6000 ext. 7391

Current Status:
The proposed Regional Official Plan Amendment has been adopted by Regional Council on June 15, 2022, as Regional Official Plan Amendment (ROPA) 52. The decision to approve the ROPA was deemed final and binding on July 20, 2022. A notice of adoption was issued for RQ64A on June 29, 2022 (PDF file) with the last date of appeal being July 19, 2022. No notices of appeal were received by the Region. Details regarding the amendment are provided below.

Applicant:
Orlando Corporation

Purpose of the Amendment:
The purpose of this Amendment is to add lands to the Urban Area to facilitate future Employment development within the area of the Town of Milton known as the Milton 401 Industrial / Business Park Secondary Plan Area. The result of the amendment is to incorporate into the Urban Area lands to be planned and developed for employment uses.

Background:
The lands subject to the ROPA application filed by Orlando Corporation on November 2, 2021 are a part of the property known as 8350 Esquesing Line in the Town of Milton. The lands are located within a part of the Town referred to as the ‘North Porta Lands’. The 8350 Esquesing property is generally bounded by Boston Church Road to the west, Esquesing Line to the east, James Snow Parkway to the south, and Lot 4 / Concession IV to the north. The specific lands subject to the ROPA application are located at the northern edge of the property and are bounded by the existing Urban Area designation to the south and the Protected Countryside boundary of Greenbelt Plan to the north. The subject lands are referred to as the ‘northern sliver’ lands in the application and are proposed to be added to the Urban Area in the Regional Official Plan.

A context map showing the location of the subject lands is shown below.

map of land for future employoment development

Click to view the map in a larger size

The lands subject to the ROPA application are currently designated Regional Natural Heritage System and Agricultural Area in the Regional Official Plan. Further, they are located between the current boundary of the Urban Area (as defined by an existing watercourse) and the Greenbelt Plan Protected Countryside. As part of the ROPA and the concurrent local development applications, the Regional Natural Heritage System designation currently on the subject lands associated with a watercourse is proposed to be realigned to generally be adjacent to the Greenbelt Plan lands.

The proposed realignment of the watercourse would enable the lands south of the watercourse’s new location to be re-designated to ‘Urban Area’, thereby facilitating their development comprehensively with the remainder of 8350 Esquesing Line and the North Porta Lands. In this regard, the applicant is requesting a change in land use designation in the Regional Official Plan from Agricultural Area to Urban Area with an Employment Area overlay.

Regional Staff Reports:

Reports in Support of the Application:

Additional Information:

  • This ROPA application is related to the Town of Milton’s Milton 401 Industrial / Business Park Secondary Plan. For more information on the Secondary Plan, visit the Town’s website at www.milton.ca.

Virtual Public Information Centre and Virtual Statutory Public Meeting:

The virtual Public Information Centre held by the applicant included a brief presentation and provided the public an opportunity to review and discuss the proposed Amendment. The virtual Statutory Public Meeting also included a brief presentation and provided the public with an opportunity to provide comments to Regional Council on the proposed Amendment.

Regional Staff Contact:

For more information or to provide comments on the application, please contact:

Owen McCabe
Senior Planner
Owen.McCabe@halton.ca
905-825-6000 ext. 7391

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