City of Pickering Official Plan- Edition 6

Employment opportunities in rural Pickering are currently
limited. It is estimated that as of 1996, rural Pickering
provided between 500 and 1,000 jobs. In the past, most
rural jobs were in agriculture and related businesses.
Today, because of a general decline in farming, rural job
opportunities need to be more diverse if the City is to
sustain a healthy rural economy.
Emphasis should be placed on introducing and supporting
a diversity of rural enterprises including agriculture,
businesses related to agriculture, and rural outdoor
recreational businesses. As well, businesses related to
resource conservation, energy conservation, and
environmental rehabilitation could be encouraged.
Also, within certain rural settlements (where permitted by a
Rural Settlement Plan), some employment could come
from “population-serving” businesses, such as convenience
stores, banks, restaurants, personal service establishments,
and gas stations, as well as from rural home occupations,
and home businesses.
2.23 City Council adopts an employment target for
rural Pickering of 2,000 jobs for the year 2016.
CITY POLICY
Rural Employment Target
2.24 City Council shall accommodate rural
employment opportunities in accordance with
the provisions of the Plan, primarily as follows,
CITY POLICY
Rural Employment
Opportunities
(a) in food production and other agricultural
and related businesses, especially those that
are labour intensive and benefit from being
in close proximity to urban areas;
(b) in farm businesses that benefit from close
proximity to urban areas, such as, but not
limited to market gardens, pick-your-own
fruit and vegetable operations, bed and
breakfast establishments, and businesses
offering rural farm holidays;
PICKERING OFFICIAL PLAN EDITION 6: Chapter Two -- Planning Framework 39