What’s next with the Official Plan Review (OPR)?

The Town of Blue Mountains is in the midst of Phase 2 of our Official Plan Review. The final stage of public input will include an Open House and a Public Meeting, likely in the late Summer or Fall of 2024.  

The Blue Mountain Ratepayers’ Association shared written feedback with TBM officials in late February.   We have prepared this summary for members.

The button, below, has the full document

Not sure what the OP, or OPR is?  Check out our primer at the bottom of this email.

Growth Management

Ensuring that TBM’s growth is sustainable is our most important planning challenge. Background studies prepared for the OPR have confirmed that there is more than enough land available within TBM settlement areas – including properties already in our development approval pipeline – to accommodate all the development anticipated for the next 25 years. There is no need for development sprawling into our agricultural or environmentally sensitive lands, or for radical changes to building height or density policies. The focus must be on carefully planned and designed intensification of existing settlement areas, and efficient use of our infrastructure and community services.

Environment & Climate Change

BMRA recommendations include addressing priorities such as tree protection, energy conservation, air quality, and protection of woodlands, wetlands, and watersheds. Findings and recommendations from the Natural Heritage Study (NHS) and Natural Asset Inventory (NAI), currently underway, must be incorporated into policy updates.    

Housing Affordability

Our recommendations focus on incorporating affordable & attainable housing targets into the OP and encouraging greater housing diversity, primarily through gentle intensification of development in existing settlement areas.

Intensification & Building Height

There is significant potential in TBM to increase the diversity of our housing stock through townhouse developments, low-rise apartments, infill, and accessory units.

We therefore recommend maintaining existing OP policies regarding minimum densities and maximum building heights across TBM. This includes maintaining the maximum height limit of 3 storeys (11 metres) across TBM, except in the Blue Mountain Village Resort Area, where the maximum height limit is 5 storeys (16 metres), and which should be constructed in a manner that limits disruption to neighbouring residents.

However, consideration could be given to permitting a maximum of 4 storeys along Hwy 26 in Thornbury or Craigleith.  

These projects would include affordable units, only be located on designated sites, and be built with top floor stepbacks and other rigorous design criteria, with transitions to adjacent low rise dwellings and neighbourhoods. 

Other key recommendations

• BMRA supports the critical role of high-quality design and the importance of ensuring that updated Community Design Guidelines are incorporated into the OP.

  
  

• Development of accessible public and commercial services in Thornbury/Clarksburg and Craigleith Village must be supported through clear and enforceable policies. Development of commercial uses is particularly important in Craigleith.

  
  

• Stronger policies are needed to support the development of new parks, open space systems and connectivity, and require large developments to provide new functional parks vs. parkettes.

  
  

• Traffic congestion along Highway 26 is a major concern. OP policies must address pedestrian safety, access to adjacent neighbourhoods, traffic management, and transportation alternatives.

Time to renew your membership!

(OK, well past time, actually!!)

We depend on your membership dues to continue to work to ensure and enhance the quality of life for our community.

If you haven’t renewed, yet, please take a moment now.

$25, by etransfer to join.bmra@gmail.com

THANK YOU!