Georgetown GO Area/Mill Street Corridor Secondary Plan Review FAQs

All reports and recommendations from the Mill Street Neighbourhood Study will be considered part of the background review for this project. While recommendations from this study can’t be directly implemented through this review, the project team will ensure that Secondary Plan policies don’t prevent these recommendations from being implemented. 

The review will also look for ways to encourage the implementation of recommendations from the Mill Street Neighbourhood Study, wherever possible.

The Provincial Policy Statement and the Growth Plan provide strong direction for increased intensification and support the close integration of transportation and land use planning through transit-supportive development in proximity to higher order transit, such as GO Transit. As a result, the Halton Regional Official Plan has identified the Georgetown GO Major Transit Station Area as an area for intensification.

The current Georgetown GO Station Area Secondary Plan, adopted in 2010, designated certain areas for high density development, including the High Density Residential/Community Facility Area in the Mill Street Corridor and the High Density Residential/Mixed Use Areas in the North Precinct, which are critical in achieving higher overall density for the Plan Area, while developing on sites already designated for high density. 

Existing designations also permit medium density uses on Guelph Street and north of the train station. These areas present opportunities to achieve gentler intensification and allow for better transition into the established low-density neighbourhoods.

In June 2020, the Town completed an Intensification Opportunities Study to develop and update policies and guidelines for intensification in the urban areas of Acton and Georgetown, outside of the Mature Neighbourhoods. 

Intensification means the development of a property, site or area at a higher density than currently exists through:

• redevelopment, including the reuse of brownfield sites locations with unused factories or commercial buildings;
• the development of vacant and/or under-utilized lots within previously developed areas;
• infill development (development in remaining empty lots in the built areas; and,
• the expansion or conversion of existing buildings.

The study assessed existing land use permissions, transportation and servicing infrastructure, and market opportunities to help identify and reassess potential intensification areas in the Town.

You can review the Results and Recommendation Report for more information. 

Located along existing or planned transit corridors, Major Transit Station Areas (MTSA) generally represent a 500-800m radius around a transit station. As mandated by the Provincial Growth Plan, these areas are intended to accommodate higher density, mixed use and transit supportive development. Halton Hills currently has two MTSAs in Acton and Georgetown, which were established through Halton Region Official Plan Amendment 48. It is the responsibility of the Town to ensure MTSAs have corresponding Secondary Plans with policies to accommodate higher density, mixed use development and continuity.

Halton Region staff has provided an estimated 37 people and jobs per hectare in the Georgetown GO MTSA. The low-density estimate can be attributed to underutilized employment and commercial areas, and High Density Residential/Mixed Use Areas I and II - having yet to be developed for their intended use.

Town and Halton Region staff are currently working towards establishing a density target for the Georgetown GO MTSA. The target will be based on existing population and employment estimates in the area. The target will also factor in what growth could be achieved through existing secondary plan permissions under the Halton Hills Official Plan.

Throughout the Secondary Plan Review, Town staff will work with Metrolinx to communicate ongoing issues and concerns raised by residents. Residents can also access information directly from Metrolinx through online resources including the Kitchener Expansion Preliminary Design Business Case (for end state of GO Expansion along Kitchener corridor), Kitchener Expansion website and Metrolinx blog (for ongoing progress).

Questions can also be sent directly to Town staff or though the Let’s Talk Halton Hills project page and we will contact Metrolinx staff for information and communicate back to the public.

Through the Secondary Plan Review process, the project team will consider how and where affordable housing can be incorporated into plan policies. The Review is still in its early stages and further discussion on affordable housing through committees and public engagement is needed. The project team will look into available tools and resources related to affordable housing and how they may be incorporated into the Secondary Plan.

The Secondary Plan Review will not directly address ongoing issues with active construction projects. The larger scale projects underway in the Mill Street Corridor will have filed Site Plan Applications and be subject to Construction Management Plans which help anticipate which issues may present themselves over the life of a construction project and present strategies to address them. Where construction-related issues are raised by residents, Town staff are responsible for communicating concerns to the developer and seeking feedback on resolution.  Specific concerns have been raised on noise, dust and parking related to construction activities:

Noise: construction noise is permitted from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. on weekdays, and 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Saturdays. Noise complaints outside of these hours are handled by Town By-law Enforcement staff, who work with the developer to ensure compliance.

Dust: Town staff work with the developer to address the dust by sweeping, flushing or wetting the driveway isles.

Parking: where material deliveries for construction sites are the cause of congestion, Town staff do work with the developer on strategies to minimize impacts.

For follow-up inquiries please contact the Building Department, you can send a message electronically here, or call 905-873-2600 x2300.