The Expanding Uses in Employment Areas study was initiated to consider expanding permitted uses in Employment Areas to include places of assembly, places of worship, and sports and recreation uses on a site or area-specific basis.
Bill 97, Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023 introduced a new definition for “area of employment” which narrowed the scope of uses from what is currently permitted in an “area of employment”. In particular, it would expressly exclude from the definition all types of institutional uses and commercial uses, except for retail and office uses that are associated with manufacturing, warehousing and research and development in connection with manufacturing.
On July 25, 2024, City Council adopted Official Plan Amendment 680 which makes various amendments to Employment Area related policies to bring the Official Plan into alignment with Provincial Bill 97 and provided an update on the status of the Expanding Uses in Employment Areas Study. Given that places of assembly, places of worship, and sports and recreation uses would not conform with the Provincial direction for “areas of employment” and the approach for OPA 680, staff have concluded the Expanding Uses Study.
Please visit the Bill 97 – Area of Employment Official Plan Amendments webpage for more information on Bill 97 and OPA 680.
On July 19, 2022 City Council directed staff to consider potential and appropriate site or area specific Official Plan Amendment(s) that could expand permitted uses in Employment Areas to include sport facilities, places of assembly (including bingo halls and banquet halls), and places of worship (PH35.15).
The Expanding Uses Survey was open from June 14 to July 14, 2023. The intention of the survey was to learn more about the benefits and challenges facing industry stakeholders, places of assembly, places of worship and sports and recreation establishments located in General Employment Areas. The following information kit provides background on the Expanding Uses Study and Survey.