On March 31 the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing introduced the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act a new piece of legislation aimed at reducing barriers to homebuilding, improving transit, and streamlining planning processes across Ontario.
The proposed legislation reflects a continued focus on modernizing Ontario’s planning framework, reducing complexity, improving consistency across municipalities and enabling faster, more predictable approvals to help get more homes built and infrastructure delivered.
Several of the proposed measures related to planning and transportation, include:
- Simplifying and standardizing municipal Official Plans
- Requirements for a Complete Application – Reports & Studies
- Clarifying and streamlining Site Plan rules
- Modernizing minimum lot size requirements
- Introducing a new framework for parkland dedication requirements
- Establishing a new regulatory framework for communal water and wastewater systems
- Standardizing GO station design and cost approaches
- Streamlining how Metrolinx obtains technical and engineering support from municipalities
- Introducing harmonized Road Standards
Additional highlights from the legislation include efforts to:
- Improve transparency around development charges and housing costs
- Expand housing opportunities in rural and hard-to-service areas
- Enhance transit accessibility and reduce congestion across the province