PLANNING & URBAN DESIGN RATIONALE

4.2 Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe
The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) came into effect on
June 16, 2006.
Similar to the Provincial Policy Statement, the Growth Plan supports mixed-use
intensification within built-up urban areas, particularly in proximity to transit. As
noted in Section 2.1 of the Plan:
“. . . Better use of land and infrastructure can be made by directing
growth to existing urban areas. This Plan envisages increasing
intensification of the existing built-up area, with a focus on urban
growth centres, intensification corridors, major transit station areas,
brownfield sites and greyfields. Concentrating new development
in these areas also provides a focus for transit and infrastructure
investments to support future growth.”
The subject site would be considered an “intensification area” pursuant to the
Growth Plan (i.e. a focus for accommodating intensification), given that it is located
within an “intensification corridor” i.e. along a major streetcar line. The Growth
Plan defines “intensification corridors” as “intensification areas along major roads,
arterials or higher order transit corridors that have the potential to provide a focus
for higher density mixed-use development consistent with planned transit service
levels”.
Policy 2.2.2(1) of the Growth Plan seeks to accommodate population and
employment growth by, among other measures, directing a significant portion
of new growth to the built-up areas of the community through intensification,
focusing intensification in intensification areas, and reducing dependence on the
automobile through the development of mixed-use, transit-supportive, pedestrianfriendly
urban environments.
In this respect, Schedule 3 of the Growth Plan forecasts a population of 3,080,000
and 1,640,000 jobs for the City of Toronto by 2031. The interim population that
had been forecast in Schedule 3 for 2011 was 2,760,000, while the actual 2011
population is estimated at 2,753,000 (i.e. the 2001-2011 population growth fell
short of the forecast by 4.1%). Growth Plan Amendment No. 2, which came
into effect on June 17, 2013, introduces updated forecasts for 2031 and 2041.
The updated population and employment forecasts for 2031 are 3,190,000 and
1,660,000, respectively, increasing to 3,400,000 and 1,720,000, respectively, by
2041.
Policy 2.2.3(6) requires municipalities to develop an intensification strategy, to be
implemented through their official plans and other supporting documents, which
will, among other things, identify intensification areas, recognize intensification
corridors as a key focus for development to accommodate intensification, and
include minimum density targets consistent with planned transit service levels.
PLANNING & URBAN DESIGN RATIONALE | 79 East Don Roadway & 677 Queen Street East 33