February 28, 2005
The Need for Greenbelt Protection
The greenbelt includes lands that are under the most significant development pressure in southern Ontario. The population in the Golden Horseshoe is expected to grow from about 7 million today to about 11 million by 2031. If current development trends continue, an area the size of Toronto, over 1,000 square kilometres, could be consumed within 30 years.
The greenbelt will protect 1.8 million acres of environmentally sensitive and agricultural land in the Golden Horseshoe from major urban development. When developing the greenbelt, land was also set aside to accommodate the urban development a growing population may require in the future.
Protection Outside the Greenbelt
Between the Oak Ridges Moraine and existing urban settlements, as well as in other parts of the Golden Horseshoe, substantial areas have been set aside from the greenbelt. These areas will enable municipalities to accommodate growth over the long term, if necessary.
Where lands are not included in the greenbelt and lands are not currently designated for urban development, they are still subject to all the requirements of the planning processes now in place.
Efficient Growth Outside the Greenbelt
The proposed Places to Grow Act, 2004, would, if passed, help to focus growth and direct key resources to curb sprawl and encourage more efficient urban development. The PPS also includes specific policies for managing growth and promoting efficient land-use and development patterns.
The PPS encourages more efficient urban development such as infill and the re-development of brownfields. These types of developments represent the best use of municipal resources, infrastructure and public transit, and will ensure that land resources currently designated for urban uses are being used efficiently, decreasing the need for additional land re-designation.
Land Supply and the Cost of Housing
The supply of land available for urban development is only one of a number of factors that affect the price of housing. Low interest rates, for example, push housing prices up by lowering the costs of borrowing and increasing affordability of higher-priced houses.
The map of the Greenbelt protects land from development, but also shows areas where there is room for growth to address the expected population increase to 2031and beyond. Recent studies show that municipalities in the GTA have at least a three-year supply of approved residential units, and that most have a 10- to 15-year supply of currently undeveloped urban land available for detached homes, as well as a longer-term supply for more compact development such as apartments and townhouses.
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Contacts:
Patti Munce
Minister's Office
416-585-6333
Victor Doyle
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
416-585-6014
www.mah.gov.on.ca
www.greenbelt.ontario.ca