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Description |
Process |
Mapping |
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Step 1: Identify settlement area boundaries prior to the adoption of municipal Growth Plan conformity amendments (pre 2006)
The boundaries of all settlement areas in the GGH, as defined by the Growth Plan, for each municipality were mapped using GIS. The mapping process required the digitization of settlement area boundaries primarily from official plan land use schedules and other maps obtained through municipal websites.
Note: Estate residential, country residential, lakeshore residential, highway commercial areas, rural industrial areas, and recreational areas were not mapped as settlement areas unless located within a designated settlement area. |
Map pre-Growth Plan settlement area boundaries
Digital map files for settlement area boundaries are not available from municipalities or from the province; therefore Neptis conducted its own mapping exercise using publicly available mapping from official plans approved prior to the adoption of municipal Growth Plan conformity amendments.
Where possible, official plans from upper-tier municipalities were used to delineate settlement area boundaries; the lower-tier official plan was used where no upper-tier official plan exists or if insufficient detail was provided in the upper-tier plan. |
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Step 2: Identify settlement areas boundaries following the adoption of municipal Growth Plan conformity amendments (post 2006)
The boundaries of all settlement areas in the GGH, as defined under the Growth Plan, for each municipality were mapped using GIS. The mapping process required the digitization of settlement area boundaries primarily from official plan land use schedules and other mapping obtained through municipal websites.
Note: The legal status of updated or amended settlement area boundaries vary by municipality, as the relevant official plans may be approved and in effect, under review, proposed, or under appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board or other court. The settlement area boundaries may change depending on the outcome of the approval and/or appeal process. |
Map post-Growth Plan settlement area boundaries
Digital map files for settlement area boundaries are not available from municipalities or from the province; therefore Neptis conducted its own mapping exercise to delineate these areas using the latest, publicly available mapping from official plans, official plan amendments, new official plans and other planning documents which incorporated municipal Growth Plan conformity amendments or expansions of the settlement area boundary. Where possible, official plans from upper-tier municipalities were used to delineate settlement area boundaries, however the lower-tier official plan was used where no upper-tier official plan exists or if insufficient detail was provided in the upper-tier plan. |
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Step 3: Determine settlement area boundary expansions
Compare the pre-Growth Plan settlement area boundaries (Step 1) with the post-Growth Plan conformity settlement area boundaries (Step 2). Any differences between the two boundaries that is not considered to be a technical adjustment due to improvements in mapping technology, mapping accuracy, or mapping scale is considered to be an expansion to the settlement area boundary.
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Determine settlement area boundary expansions
In order to determine the areas of settlement expansion, the difference between the pre-Growth Plan settlement area boundaries (Step 1) and the post-Growth Plan boundaries (Step 2) is determined.
Any difference between the two boundaries is considered to be a settlement area boundary expansion. |
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Step 4: Identify the Built-Up Area: Built Boundary for each municipality
The Built-Up Area: Built Boundary was divided by upper-, single-, and lower-tier municipal boundaries. |
Delineated Built-Up Area: Built Boundary
Digital map files for the Built-Up Area: Built Boundary were obtained from the Ministry of Infrastructure delineating the Built Boundary for the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2006 (2008).
The Built-Up Area: Built Boundary was divided by municipality using municipal boundaries. In certain cases the Built-Up Area: Built Boundary mapping was slightly adjusted to align with the settlement area boundaries. |
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Step 5: Identify Urban and Rural settlement areas
Classify each settlement area mapped in Step 1 and Step 2 as Urban or Rural, depending on the presence of a Built-Up Area: Built Boundary identified in Step 4. If a Built-Up Area: Built Boundary is present, the settlement area is classified as Urban. If not, the settlement area is classified as Rural. Settlement areas with undelineated built-up area are classified as rural.
Some settlement areas area classified as rural prior to Growth Plan conformity were classified as Urban Settlement Areas after this process. |
Classify settlement areas as Urban or Rural
Settlement areas with a Built-Up Area: Built Boundary are described in the Growth Plan as having full municipal services and the capacity to support significant intensification and future growth.
Settlement areas without a Built Boundary: Built-up Area are described in the Growth Plan as those without full municipal services that have limited capacity to accommodate significant future growth and are not intended to be a focus of intensification or future growth. |
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Step 6: Identify the designated greenfield areas (undeveloped lands) with the urban settlement area
Subtract the Built Up-Area: Built Boundary (Step 4) from the Urban Settlement Area (Step 5).
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Subtract the Built-Up Area: Built Boundary from Urban Settlement Areas
In addition to lands within an urban settlement area that are built up, there are also lands that are undeveloped, these lands are known as designated greenfield areas.
Over time, designated greenfield area lands are intended to be used for urban development and will become built-up.
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Step 7: Identify Designated Greenfield Areas as pre vs. post Growth Plan conformity
Classify the designated greenfield areas identified in Step 6 according to the pre Growth Plan settlement boundaries in Step 1 and post Growth Plan boundaries in Step 2. Undeveloped areas within the pre-Growth Plan boundaries (Step 1) are considered to be Designated Greenfield Areas. Undeveloped areas within the settlement area boundary expansions (Step 2) are considered New Designated Greenfield Areas. |
Classify Designated Greenfield Areas
Designated Greenfield Areas are areas located within the Urban settlement boundary that have not yet been developed for urban uses.
New Designated Greenfield Areas are similar to Designated Greenfield Areas, however they were added after 2006 through Growth Plan conformity amendments to municipal official plans.
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Step 8: Classify remaining settlement expansion areas
The settlement area boundary expansions (Step 4) which were not classified as Urban Settlement Areas (Step 5) are also considered settlement area expansion but are known as New Rural Settlement Areas. |
Identify Rural Settlement Expansion Areas
In addition to the Urban settlement area boundary expansions which are known as New Designated Greenfield Areas, there are also expansions to Rural settlement areas boundaries. Rural Settlement Areas boundary expansions are New Rural Settlement Area. |
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Final Result: The mapping and identification of the settlement area boundary expansions and the classification of settlement areas as Urban or Rural, including the identification of Designated Greenfield Areas, New Designated Greenfield Areas, Rural Settlement Areas and New Rural Settlement Area allows for a complete inventory of all land designated as settlement areas.
Note: The New Designated Greenfield Areas may be either approved or proposed depending on their status in a municipal official plan amendment or new official plan. New Designated Greenfield Areas may also be under appeal and awaiting a decision from the Ontario Municipal Board or other court. |
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