What’s your vision for Vaughan?
Image
Get Inspired; Get Involved! Join a Virtual Visioning Workshop being held as part of the Official Plan Review
What kind of city do you want Vaughan to be in 30 years? As part of the City of Vaughan’s Official Plan Review, two Virtual Visioning Workshops are being hosted for the community to provide their input and help shape the city’s future. Sessions will be held on Thursday, Dec. 2 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 6 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visit vaughan.ca/OPR to register in advance for your preferred timeslot.
Hosted via Zoom, the meetings will provide information on the project and identify the Official Plan Review’s purpose, timeline and work completed to date. Attendees will collaborate with each other and City staff to provide input that will help guide the community’s growth into 2051.
Two workshops have been set up to provide multiple opportunities to participate – the meeting format is the same for both events and interested participants only need to sign up for their preferred session.
- Register to attend the session on Thursday, Dec. 2 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Register to attend the session on Monday, Dec. 6 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The City is committed to reporting back to the community on what we heard throughout each phase of work. The feedback received during both visioning workshops and prior engagement opportunities will be summarized in an Engagement Summary Report. The report will include an updated vision for the Vaughan Official Plan, understanding that the vision will evolve throughout the course of the project. The report will be available in the coming months on this webpage, so check back often for updates.
Other ways to have your say
Currently, the City is recruiting up to 20 volunteer members of the community to join the Vaughan Official Plan Review – Community Working Group. Members will provide vital input to help shape the draft updated Official Plan, including the revised vision for Vaughan, and help address questions such as:
- How and where should growth happen?
- What kind of city do you want Vaughan to be in 30 years?
- How would you like to get around the city?
- What does a complete community look like to you?
- How can Vaughan be more sustainable?
For more information, view the application package at vaughan.ca/OPR. If interested, email a complete application to oprmanager@vaughan.ca before Friday, Nov. 5 at 4:30 p.m. Individuals can call 905-832-8585, ext. 8699 with any questions.
Further community engagement opportunities will continue to be available as the review progresses, including online surveys, workshops, public meetings and more. Details will be posted to vaughan.ca/OPR as they are confirmed.
What is an Official Plan?
An Official Plan outlines the vision for the future of a city, including responsible governance, sustainable planning, economic leadership, transparency, accountability and inclusivity. It is a strategic planning document that establishes a policy framework to guide the physical, social, environmental and economic development of the city’s communities. The City of Vaughan’s Official Plan:
· implements goals, objectives and land use policies to serve the community.
· directs density, housing supply, protection of environmental features and agricultural areas, cultural heritage preservation and more.
· guides growth and development to implement the vision for Vaughan’s long-term evolution.
The updated Official Plan must align with new Provincial policies and plans, including the Provincial Policy Statement, Greenbelt Plan, Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, and 2051 growth targets for people and jobs. It must also conform with the York Region Official Plan, currently being updated through the York Region Municipal Comprehensive Review.
Why is the City’s Official Plan being reviewed?
Vaughan’s communities are constantly growing and changing. Vaughan is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada with a population of 341,600 people and 240,200 jobs in 2021. Over the next three decades, Vaughan will become home to 227,100 more people, bringing the total population to 568,700 people. Vaughan will also provide nearly 111,800 more jobs bringing the total employment to 352,000 jobs. This expected growth will account for almost one-third of the region’s growth to 2051. The City is updating the existing Vaughan Official Plan 2010 to better meet the needs of current and future citizens, workers and visitors, and help guide this expansive growth to ensure Vaughan continues to be a great place to live, work and play.
How long will the Official Plan Review take?
As a progressive and growing Greater Toronto Area municipality, Vaughan is large and complex. It is expected the Official Plan Review will be completed in approximately two years. The City will need time to review all existing policies, conform with recent changes to Provincial Plans and Policies and with York Region’s ongoing Municipal Comprehensive Review, involve the community every step of the way, and report back to on progress throughout the life of the project. The process will be broken out into four phases, with public engagement being a vital component throughout. Learn more about each phase at vaughan.ca/OPR.
For more information or to be added to the project’s mailing list, visit vaughan.ca/OPR, call 905-832-8585, ext. 8699 or email oprmanager@vaughan.ca.