All options are on the table as the City of Orillia plans for future growth and jobs.
City council has agreed to update the city's Land Needs Assessment as the province requires Orillia to plan for a future population of more than 49,000 people and 26,000 jobs over the next 30 years. A previous assessment completed in 2020 determined the city does not have sufficient land for growth within its existing boundaries.
Mayor Steve Clarke says council recognizes the need to explore all options.
"Council voted unanimously to support revisiting our Land Needs Assessment to explore increased intensification options for residential development and how that could impact what amount of provincially required growth could be accommodated through intensification, rather than solely through a potential boundary expansion," says Clarke.
In addition to voting to consider a higher intensification strategy, council also directed staff to establish a set of 'Made in Orillia' planning principles to manage growth from an environmental, cultural, economic and social perspective. This will be completed as part of the Official Plan update, which is anticipated to begin in 2003.
"At this point in time, no decisions have been made about the future of Orillia’s boundary,” says Jill Lewis, Senior Planner. “Following Council’s direction, the City is currently exploring its options for future growth. Parallel planning processes are underway to study the impacts of higher intensification and greenfield density targets for residential development within the existing boundary, while we also continue evaluating the lands surrounding the City for a potential future boundary expansion.”
Before any decisions will be made by council in 2023, there will be further consultation with the public and stakeholders, including opportunities to provide input and feedback on increased intensification and greenfield density residential development options and the preliminary results of the Technical Land Evaluation.
Learn more about the MCR process and sign up for the email mailing list at orillia.ca/MCR.
