The Official Plan guides growth and development in the municipality through 2031. It establishes strategic directions for managing growth, maintaining environmental integrity, providing infrastructure, and creating livable communities. The Plan is implemented through the development review process, transportation and infrastructure planning, and protecting lands according to environmental policies. It is a legal document that is reviewed every five years to ensure the municipality's vision and priorities are addressed.

1. The Policy Context
Planning and Growth Management
Department
Presentation to Planning Committee
February 7th
, 2011 (amended March 2014)

2. 2
The Official Plan Overview
The Official Plan (OP) guides the
physical growth and development of
the municipality:
•
Where land uses will go
•
Where services will be needed
•
What lands will be preserved
from development
•
What authority is delegated
•
How consultation will occur

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The Official Plan Overview Cont’d.
• An Official Plan is a legal document
• Authority comes from the Planning Act;
• An Official Plan cannot control:
•
The closure of schools
•
The cutting of trees
•
The provision of social services
•
The drainage of fields
●
5-Year Review completed in 2013
(OPA 150)

4. 4
The Official Plan Review: OPA 150
• Approved by Council December 2013
• Approval by the Minister of Municipal
Affairs and Housing expected in
spring 2014.

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Key Strategic Directions
The Official Plan meets the challenges
of growth through to 2031 by pursuing
strategic directions in four key areas:
1.Managing Growth
2.Maintaining Environmental Integrity
3.Providing Infrastructure
4.Creating Liveable Communities

6. 6
1. Managing Growth
•Direct the majority of growth to the
urban area where services already
exist.
•Support growth in the Villages.
•Urban area growth will be directed to
areas where density can be
accommodated and served with
quality transit, walking and cycling
facilities.
•Downtown Ottawa will be a vibrant
mix of thriving economic and cultural
activities.

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2. Maintaining Environmental Integrity
•Emphasizes transit, walking and
cycling, and by policies that protect
forests, wetlands and other natural
environment areas to support Air
quality.
•Provincially and locally significant
wetlands and forests will be conserved.
•The City will direct land use and
development in a way and to locations
that maintain ecosystem functions over
time.
•Greenspaces will be valued and
protected.

8. 8
Greenspace Master Plan
●
Council’s objectives for urban
greenspace is to provide:
“an adequate supply of greenspace, readily
accessible to residents as a connected network
of high-quality spaces planned and maintained
on a sustainable basis”
●
Urban Greenspace Networks:

Increase accessibility to greenspace;

Identify priorities for extending the
network;

Connect neighbourhoods to the
network;

Supports sustainability of natural lands.

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3. Providing Infrastructure: Transportation
Master Plan
The Official Plan directs the
Transportation Master Plan to
implement the following policies:
●
Transportation Demand Management
●
Transportation System Management
●
Walking
●
Cycling
●
Transit
●
Roads and Rights-of-Way Protection
●
Other Rights-of-Way Protection
●
Parking
●
Movement of Goods
●
Transportation Terminals

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Providing Infrastructure:
Infrastructure Master Plan
The Official Plan directs the
Infrastructure Master Plan to
implement the following policies:
●
Water supply and treatment;
●
Wastewater collection and treatment;
●
Stormwater collection and release;
The IMP sets policy to support
intensification through Capacity
Management Strategies for piped
infrastructure

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4. Create Liveable Communities
•Growth will be managed in ways that create
complete communities;
•Provide rural and urban economic activities in
suitable locations;
•Maintain high quality of life;
•Familiar landscapes and heritage buildings will
be maintained;
•Rural communities will continue to be valued
for their distinct economies and lifestyles;
•Increase the supply of affordable housing;
•Create attractive communities;
•Community building will be open and
inclusive;
•Agricultural lands, natural areas will be
protected and mineral resources will be
protected for extraction.

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How We Make the Official Plan “Real”
●
Through the Development Review Process:
●
If there is a request for height or density is it near rapid
transit?
●
Are we achieving our density requirements?
●
Are we achieving a mixed use to encourage “live, work,
play”?
●
Will the proposal respect the neighbourhood’s character?
●
Is there adequate servicing capacity in the area?
●
Are the environmental tenets of the Official Plan being
respected – how can we make the project more
sustainable?
●
Are we providing an array of housing supply - affordability
●
How can we best incorporate good urban design?

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How We Make the Official Plan “Real”
●
Through undertaking transportation planning studies
●
Based on the prioritization of the Transportation Master
Plan
●
Through examining other servicing alternatives and
public works implications
●
Through protecting or acquiring environmentally
sensitive lands
●
Environmental Impact Statement
●
Urban Natural Features Strategy
●
Considering municipal budget implications

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How We Make the Official Plan “Real”
Through plans and strategies:
•Community Design Plans and
Secondary Plans
•Urban Design guidelines
•Zoning By-law
•Specific development applications