Provincial Policy Statement

Revised February 1, 1997

I.    PREAMBLE

The Policy Statement is intended to promote a policy-led system which recognizes that there are complex inter-relationships among environmental, economic and social factors in land use planning.

...Wisely managed growth can result in communities which are economically and environmentally sound, and which meet the full range of needs of their current and future residents. Doing things right the first time can avoid the need for costly remedial measures to correct problems.

II.   PRINCIPLES

Ontario's long term economic prosperity, environmental health and social well-being depend on:

...3. reducing the potential for public cost or risk to Ontario's residents by directing development away from areas where there is risk to public health or safety or of property damage.

III.   POLICIES

It is the policy of the Province of Ontario that:

1.1.1. d) Development and land use patterns that would hinder the efficient expansion of urban areas
              or rural settlement areas are not permitted in adjacent areas;

f) Development and land use patterns which may cause environmental or public health and safety concerns will be avoided.

1.1.2. Land requirements and land use patterns will be based on:

b) densities which: 2.) avoid the need for unnecessary and/or uneconomical expansion of infrastructure;

d) development standards which are cost effective and which will minimize land consumption and reduce servicing costs.

1.1.3. Long term economic prosperity will be supported by:

d) conserving energy and water by providing for energy and water efficiency;

g) planning so that major facilities (such as ... transportation corridors, sewage treatment facilities, wastemanagement systems ...) and sensitive land uses are appropriately designed, buffered and/or separated from each other to prevent adverse effects from odour, noise and other contaminants.

1.3. Infrastructure
1.3.1. Sewage and Water Systems
1.3.1.1 Planning for sewage and water systems will recognize that:

a) full municipal sewage and water services are the preferred form of servicing for urban areas and rural settlement areas;

b) communal services are the preferred means of servicing multiple lot/units in areas where full municipal sewage and water services are not or cannot be provided, where site conditions are suitable over the long term;

d) partial services will be discouraged except where necessary to address failed services, or because of physical constraints.

2.4 Water Quality and Quantity

2.4.1 The quality and quantity of ground water and surface water and the function of sensitive ground water recharge/discharge areas, aquifers and headwaters will be protected or enhanced.

3. Public Health and Safety
3.1 Natural Hazards
3.1.2 Development and site alteration will not be permitted within:

c) a floodway (except in those exceptional situations where a Special Policy Area has been approved).

3.1.3 Except as provided in policy 3.1.2, development and site alteration may be permitted in hazardous lands and hazardous sites, provided that all of the following can be achieved:

b) new hazards are not created and existing hazards are not aggravated:

c) no adverse environmental impacts will result.

IV    IMPLEMENTATION/INTERPRETATION

4. These policies are to be applied in dealing with planning matters.

Official Plans will integrate all applicable provincial policies and apply appropriate land use designations and policies. Since the policies focus on end results, the official plan is the most important vehicle for the implementation of the Policy Statement.

5. ...The applicable policies would be considered as part of the evaluation conducted under the relevant environmental assessment process.

6. The Province, in consultation with municipalities, will identify performance indicators for measuring the effectiveness of some or all of the policies, and will monitor their implementation.  Municipalities are encouraged to establish performance indicators to monitor the implementation of the policies in their official plans.

DEFINITIONS

"Adverse effects":
as defined in the Environmental Protection Act, means one or more of:

• impairment of the quality of the natural environment for any use that can be made of it;

• injury or damage to property or plant and animal life;

• harm or material discomfort to any person;

• an adverse effect on the health of any person;

• impairment of the safety of any person;

• rendering any property or plant or animal life unfit for use by humans;

• loss of enjoyment of normal use of property; and

• interference with normal conduct of business.
  

"Full municipal sewage and water services":
means piped sewage and water services that are connected to a centralized water and wastewater treatment facility.

"Communal services":
means sewage works and sewage systems, and water works that provide for the distribution, collection or treatment of sewage or water but which:

• are not connected to full municipal sewage and water services;

• are for the common use of more than five residential units/lots; and

• are owned, operated, and managed by:

  • the municipality; or

  • another public body; or

  • a condominium corporation or single owner which has entered into an agreement with the municipality or public body, pursuant to Section 51 of the Planning Act, provided that for municipal/public body assumption of the communal services in the event of default by the owner.

"Significant":
means:

• in regard to wetlands and areas of natural and scientific interest, an area identified as provincially significant by the Ministry of Natural Resources using evaluation procedures established by the province, as amended from time to time.

• in regard to other features and areas in policy 2.3, ecologically important in terms of features, functions, representation or amount, and contributing to the quality and diversity of an identifiable geographic area or natural heritage system. Criteria for determining significance may be recommended by the Province, but municipal approaches that achieve the same objective may also be used.

• in regard to other matters, important in terms of amount, content, representation or effect.