On Tuesday, February 4th, 2025, at a Special Meeting of Council, Orillia City Council made a decision on density targets, urban boundary expansion, and policy directions for the new Official Plan.
Ahead of the meeting, Stop Sprawl Orillia had sent a written submission to Council, signed on by seven of our organizational partners, with our recommendations (see our last post for this)
The good, the bad, and the questionable
✅ Council voted for our preferred density target (Option 1 – a Minimum Average Density Target of 47 units per net hectare in Strategic Growth Areas). The minimum building height will be 3 storeys to a maximum of 12 storeys. The only types of development permitted in the boundary expansion will be in the form of Stacked Townhouses, Back-to-Back Townhouses, Multiple Dwellings and Apartments. This means no single-detached houses aka NO SPRAWL!
❌ Council voted against Councillor Fallis’ motion for a 50 metre natural heritage buffer on all new developments. We have since heard that there have been some encouraging conversations amongst Council around the reintroduction of this 50 metre buffer.
❔Council voted for the maximum lands required for boundary expansion out of the new options (Option 3 – 195 hectares or 481 acres). Councillor Durnford explained that this approach was intended to avoid having to repeat the lengthy and costly boundary expansion process in 10–15 years. The rationale was that, by planning for a larger land base now (while maintaining the higher densification targets) and by pairing it with strong natural heritage buffer protections, the City could better guide how this land is developed over time. Councillor Durnford also expressed confidence in City planning staff and in the planning process to ensure the lands are developed responsibly, noting that this approach could save both time and public money in the long run.
What the boundary expansion means
The fact that Council voted for the maximum lands required for boundary expansion out of the new options is not inherently bad. Along with higher-density housing forms, the expansion lands will be used for jobs, recreation, and schools. It is up to us to stay engaged in this process and ensure that the city develops these expansion lands in a way that is equitable, sustainable, community-driven, safe, dignified, affordable, and protects natural features.
It is important to remember that the original boundary expansion proposal, way back in 2021, was for 939 acres of land! Through sustained advocacy, engagement, and pressure, we are now at a place where the city is expanding the boundary by nearly half that amount, and has chosen a density target that allows for no urban sprawl. This is a huge win and a testament to the power of grassroots organizing!
The council meeting can be watched in its entirety here and the OrilliaMatters article can be found here.
An archive of the history of the Stop Sprawl Orillia campaign can be found here.