The Aurora Official Plan Review (OPR) has come a long way! After extensive public consultation throughout the last two years, and after Councils approval this week, the Town of Aurora has now released a draft Official Plan Amendment with a revised vision for town planning over the next 30 years for public review.
The Town’s Official Plan Review is a provincially-mandated review that looks at how Aurora will grow and change in the future. Its policies guide our planning processes and have a direct impact on how our residents, businesses and visitors engage, experience and live in our Town. The Official Plan Amendment is the updated document that, once adopted by Council and approved by York Region, will become the modern and updated Official Plan that will articulate the vision for Aurora to 2051.
Some of the key changes and enhancements being proposed in the draft Official Plan Amendment include policies for climate change resilience and natural heritage protection, cultural heritage preservation, active transportation, the updated Promenade/Major Transit Station Area Secondary Plan, updated maps and schedules and so much more.
The draft plan does an excellent job in capturing the vision of council and the public – balancing growth with our collective desire to maintain small town charm. The draft amendment puts in policies that Council wanted to see from last term, such as complete streets and heritage landscapes, as well as plans on how we can protect them. Not only do we include tools to address the housing crisis and affordability, but we do it in a way that is right for the Town. There is also significant focus on Aurora’s downtown which has been a priority this term.
The Draft Official Plan Amendment is available for public review and comment on the Town’s public engagement site, Engage Aurora.
Here’s how to submit your feedback:
- Add a comment using the “Comments” tool on engageaurora.ca/opr; or
- Send an e-mail to the Town’s Project Manager, Edward Terry, at eterry@aurora.ca