On February 28, 2020, the Province of Ontario issued a new Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 (PPS 2020), informed by comments received between July 22 and October 21, 2019. PPS 2020 will take effect on May 1, 2020. In accordance with section 3 of the Planning Act, all decisions affecting land use planning matters made after May 1, 2020, shall be consistent with the PPS 2020. In this insight, we provide a high level overview of the changes.
Protection of economic uses
The provincial government is seeking to protect economic uses, including industrial, manufacturing and employment. In addition, the province is encouraging planning authorities to facilitate conditions for economic investment.
Industrial and manufacturing uses: PPS 2020 requires planning authorities to protect the long-term viability of existing or planned industrial, manufacturing or other uses that are vulnerable to encroachment by ensuring that the planning and development of proposed adjacent sensitive uses are only permitted if the following are demonstrated in accordance with provincial guidelines, standards and procedures:
- There is an identified need for the proposed use;
- Alternative locations for the proposed use have been evaluated and there are no reasonable alternative locations;
- Adverse effects to the proposed sensitive land use are minimized and mitigated; and
- Potential impacts to industrial, manufacturing and other uses are minimized and mitigated.
This change is intended to ensure that sensitive land uses do not encroach on industrial and manufacturing uses.
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