FAQs

The Federal Government of Canada manages the immigration of newcomers to Canada.

The Province of Ontario looks at the amount of population expected from both newcomers to Canada, and growth from families already here, including where and how much population will be forecasted for each Region, like here in the Region of Durham.

The Region of Durham then takes that forecasted population and directs how much of it may go to each municipality, like the Town of Whitby, and how much more land is needed for new housing and job growth (e.g. offices, manufacturing). 

The Town of Whitby uses its Official Plan to plan where new housing, opportunities for jobs, and other important community services should go (like parks and schools) to manage our increasing population over the long term.  For example, this next Official Plan Review will plan out Whitby to the year 2051. Under the Ontario Planning Act, the Province requires that each municipality establish and continually update the Official Plan. 

No, this is not a full re-write or replacement of the existing Official Plan, which underwent a comprehensive update in 2018. This next review focuses on updating specific, key areas, to plan for more housing and opportunities for jobs, while also updating the existing Official Plan to include recent changes required by both the Province, and the Region of Durham’s newly adopted Regional Official Plan – Envision Durham.

The Brooklin Expansion Area has been set by the Region of Durham, who is responsible for forecasting population growth and setting out how much more land is needed for each local municipality to provide more housing, jobs and other community services that will support this future increase in population. 

Protected Major Transit Station Areas (PMTSAs) are generally defined as the area within a 500 to 800 metre radius, representing about a 10-minute walk, form a major transit station, like the Whitby GO Station.  The Region of Durham has identified the boundary for the Whitby GO PMTSA in the newly adopted Envision Durham Regional Official Plan. 

Municipalities can plan for increased height and density surrounding the Whitby GO PMTSA to support more housing options close to transit.  The Town will be exploring where it may be appropriate to add more height and density close to the Whitby GO PMTSA, while also planning for appropriate transitions  to existing neighbourhoods and community assets already located there. 

Inclusionary Zoning allows municipalities to request more options for affordable housing within a Protected Major Transit Station Area (PMTSA), like the Whitby GO PMTSA. Inclusionary Zoning would apply to developments that have more than 10 residential units. The Town will be exploring the use of Inclusionary Zoning through this next Official Plan Review.

Strategic Growth Areas are already identified in the Town Official Plan. These are areas along major roads and transit routes, where it makes sense to allow for more dense housing options, like apartment buildings, and other land uses that support shops, offices and services for the surrounding community.  These are called “Major Central Areas” and “Intensifications Areas” and “Intensification Corridors” in the Official Plan. The Town will be exploring where it may be appropriate to add more height and density in these Strategic Growth Areas, while also planning for appropriate transitions to mature neighbourhoods and community assets already located there.