Infrastructure Capacity Assessment

In 2024 a Provincial Planning Statement was issued that enabled private landowners to request an expansion of the urban boundary at any time, including outside of a comprehensive review or Official Plan update. The consideration of such expansions requires an Official Plan Amendment. The urban boundary is the area that is already serviced or may be serviced with major roads, sewer, and water services, on which development may take place.

If a proponent wishes to include land within the Urban Boundary, they may make an application for an Urban and Village Boundary Expansion Official Plan Amendment. These amendments generally are site-specific.

Before applicants begin the planning process, applicants must consult with the City to obtain Servicing Capacity information as part of steps 1 and 2:

  1. an assessment of existing and planned servicing (water and sanitary) capacity, and
  2. where system capacities will not be available to support the OPA application based on planned system upgrades, the second report identifying off-site works and the associated costs required to accommodate the expansion.

Before you begin

If you think that an Urban Boundary expansion is needed, you are encouraged to meet and discuss your proposal with staff through a pre-consultation. The pre-consultation process is designed to help promote the exchange of information and identify considerations early in the planning process. During pre-consultation a customized list of the studies and plans required in support of the application is provided.

 

Cost and timelines

The City will not commence work on Step 1 until the invoice has been paid. The applicant will be invoiced following application submission for Step 1.

The fee for Step 1 is $250,000.  This fee may be reduced or eliminated under certain circumstances.  This would require approval of the General Manager of Infrastructure and Water Services Department.

Where the request includes lands that were added in the Official Plan by the Minster, and subsequently removed by Bill 150, a $50,000 reduction can be applied. Please include this in your submission.

The time for the City to complete Step 1 after receipt of payment will vary depending on the site in question.  Timelines will be provided by staff based on the scope of the application.

Requirements

To support the off-site servicing evaluation by the City, the following must be submitted to the City’s satisfaction:

  1. GIS file that includes delineation of gross development area and approximate net developable area
  2. Estimated build-out population, employment, and dwelling counts by type
  3. For expansions involving build-out populations of less than 3,000, proponent shall provide spreadsheet with design water and sanitary demands based on City design guidelines.
    • For expansion areas involving populations greater than 3,000, the City will provide the proponent with the parameters necessary to generate spreadsheet with design water and sanitary demands.