FAQs - General
- Providing for a range of residential uses and housing options
- Preserving natural resources and systems
- Infrastructure and servicing requirements
- Providing for multiple transportation options
- Maintaining and enhancing agricultural lands
- Conserving and enhancing cultural heritage assets
- Supporting job opportunities and economic competitiveness
- Creating safe and inclusive communities
Why is an Official Plan important?
An Official Plan provides direction and guidance to help inform decisions on:
What is an Official Plan?
An Official Plan is a strategic planning document that helps municipalities manage growth and change. It contains goals, objectives, policies and mapping that direct how land may be used. It considers important social, environmental, economic, and cultural factors over the short and long term.
Why is the Town reviewing / updating its Official Plan?
The Town of Halton Hills Official Plan was adopted by Town Council in 2006 and approved by Halton Region in 2008. It sets the Town’s land use policies to the year 2031 and applies to all lands in the Town.
Since its approval, many changes have occurred at the provincial, regional, and local levels. To remain adaptive and future-ready, the Town will review existing Official Plan policies to ensure conformity with important legislation and plans. It will also ensure alignment with other ongoing municipal initiatives. The new Official Plan will focus on a horizon year of 2051.
Can I make changes to my property’s land use designation?
Yes, but not through this process. Requests to change individual properties is dealt with through a separate planning process. Please visit the Town’s Development Application webpage for more information.
When will the project be completed?
It is expected that the Project will be completed in 2026.
How will “small town living at its best” guide every aspect of the new official plan?
The Town's slogan "small town living at its best" is reflective of the Town’s exceptionally high quality of life. Maintaining balance while ensuring the Town’s long-term prosperity and high quality of life becomes particularly important as the Town prepares to meet provincial growth targets of an additional 20,000 people by 2031 and significantly more by 2051. Central to the municipality’s approach to growth planning is its strong interest in energy conservation and sustainable development.
Source: 2024 Budget & Business Plan
Is this presentation available online or by request?
Yes, the presentation is posted on this project's webpage.
How can you keep a small town feel with over 100,000 people?
The Town’s Strategic Plan outlines a vision for Halton Hills that the strategies and objectives in the Official Plan seek to create – a growing, nature-rich community that is proud of its small-town feel and urban rural mix where all people feel welcomed, safe, and connected. The next Public Open House (POH #2) will focus on visioning and priority setting, including long-term planning goals that will help guide policy development.
Will the water changeover that happened in "Georgetown South" (allowing people to get rid of their water softener) be expanded to anywhere in the "North"?
Halton Region has a planned Phase 2 for the expansion of lake-based servicing for Georgetown, targeted for around 2030. The neigbhourhoods intended to convert from the ground-based system to the lake-based system under Phase 2 would include:
o Stewarttown
o Arbor Glen (Arborglen Drive and Apple Blossom Crescent
o Stewart’s Mill (streets north of 15 Side Road, east of Trafalgar Road)
For more information please contact the Region of Halton.
In order to keep the "small town character" when will we start closing the downtown core for weekend walking traffic. It would help businesses and bring people together.
Many towns and cities have considered "car-free" festivals and events on a temporary and permanent basis. These types of opportunities and programs could be considered and explored through the Town’s Mobility Master Plan, and further evaluated as part of the annual Transportation Work Plan.
We encourage you to share this feedback directly with the project team for the Mobility Master Plan at letstalkhaltonhills.ca/MMP.
When do you believe the Norval By-pass will start being built?
Based on the Town's understanding, construction for the Norval West Bypass is scheduled to begin by 2031. Please note that this timing is subject to approval of the Halton Region budget.
Can the town stop ticketing overnight parking from April-November?
Under the Uniform Traffic Control By-law 2023-0094, on-street parking is prohibited annually from November 15 to April 15. Outside of this period, the only violation related to on-street parking is leaving a vehicle parked for more than six hours—unless signage posted states otherwise. Parking Enforcement will continue to issue tickets for vehicles parked longer than six hours at any time, day or night, as this remains a year-round regulation.
How is the city controlling the lands being converted to truck parking?
The Town reviews any property that appears to be used for purposes not permitted under current zoning regulations. While Enforcement staff cannot directly control how land is used, they are empowered to apply enforcement tools to help ensure the property complies with applicable zoning and land use permissions.