The interrelationship between MTSAs, PMTSAs and Inclusionary Zoning

There is a strong relationship between the selection of Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs), their status as Protected Major Transit Station Areas (PMTSAs) and the implementation of inclusionary zoning as a planning tool to accommodate affordable housing.

The provincial planning framework for MTSAs continues to evolve. The Planning Act and policies directed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (the Ministry), such as the Provincial Policy Statement 2020 and Amendment 1 (2020) to A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (Growth Plan), emphasize using Ontario’s existing and planned transit networks to encourage transit-supportive land use planning principles for residential and employment growth.

Provincial policy requires a more refined approach when planning MTSAs at a regional, county and local level, to ensure policies and zoning under each authority provide as-of-right permissions to facilitate transit-oriented development. Focusing on and planning for MTSAs is a well-recognized and important way for municipalities to build on their intensification strategies and achieve the provincial Growth Plan objectives.

Overview: MTSA > PMTSA > Inclusionary Zoning Framework

• The Planning Act enables inclusionary zoning as a planning tool under (s. 16(4))
  • O Reg 232/18 prescribes requirements for a municipality’s Inclusionary Zoning approach
• The Planning Act allows for inclusionary zoning to be implemented within PMTSAs (s. 16(5))
• The Planning Act permits municipalities to delineate PMTSAs (s. 16(15, 16))
  • The Growth Plan requires upper- and single-tier municipalities to delineate MTSAs (s. 2.2.4.2) by July 1, 2022 (the Ministry-directed deadline for all municipalities to complete their conformity exercises, known as Municipal Comprehensive Reviews or MCRs)
    • It is the responsibility and jurisdiction of a municipality to determine which MTSAs it identifies as PMTSAs, but PMTSAs require Ministry approval.
      • Identifying a PMTSA allows for inclusionary zoning to be implemented and used by municipalities as a planning tool.

The origins of today’s inclusionary zoning regime

On April 11, 2018, O Reg 232/18 under the Planning Act was prescribed to allow municipalities to implement and use inclusionary zoning. Inclusionary zoning is a land-use planning tool that aims to increase the supply of affordable housing by requiring a certain percentage of new development to include affordable units.

Bill 108 (the More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019), enacted on June 6, 2019, amended the Planning Act to limit inclusionary zoning to PMTSAs and areas where a Development Permit System is in place. MTSAs are delineated areas surrounding a higher-order transit station or stop.

PMTSAs are MTSAs that have been specifically identified as “protected” by a municipality, and for which specific Official Plan policies have been incorporated. The MTSA delineation process, and the establishment of PMTSAs, plays a key role in implementing inclusionary zoning to require/provide affordable housing.

Major Transit Station Areas vs. Protected Major Transit Station Areas

Under the Growth Plan, MTSAs are generally defined as the approximately 500- to 800-metre radius surrounding an existing or planned higher-order transit stop or station. MTSAs are areas intended to accommodate a substantial proportion of a municipality’s future residential and employment growth in order to encourage transit usage. The current Growth Plan requires upper- and single-tier municipalities to delineate the boundaries of MTSAs on priority transit corridors (as identified in Growth Plan Schedule 5) or subway lines.

PMTSAs are MTSAs identified by a municipality and subsequently approved by the Minister, as protected. There is no legislative requirement for municipalities to identify PMTSAs. If, however, a municipality wants to implement inclusionary zoning, then it must identify and “protect” a delineated MTSA.

Under ss. 16(15) and 16(16)¹ of the Planning Act, if a municipality does choose to undertake this process, they must update their Official Plan to include policies that:

• Identify the minimum number of residents and jobs, collectively, per hectare that are planned to be accommodated in the area;
• Identify the authorized uses of land in the major transit station area and of buildings or structures on lands in the area; and
• Identify the minimum densities authorized with respect to buildings and structures on lands in the area.

In addition, municipalities may choose to include policies that specify minimum and maximum heights and maximum densities with respect to buildings and structures on lands in the area.

Under s. 17(36.1.4) of the Planning Act, there is no appeal with respect to any policies that identify a PMTSA or any of its related policies, including minimum and maximum densities and heights of buildings or structures, as well as authorized uses of land.

MTSA delineation process

The Growth Plan requires all municipalities to develop an intensification strategy to demonstrate how its intensification target will be achieved (s. 2.2.2.3). Within these strategies, municipalities identify Strategic Growth Areas to support achieving the intensification target. MTSAs are included in the definition of Strategic Growth Areas. As such, it is anticipated that municipalities will undertake their MTSA delineation process as part of their larger intensification strategies.

There is no prescribed method by which a municipality must undertake the delineation process. The Ministry has, however, set a July 1, 2022 deadline for municipalities to complete their MCRs.

In two-tier municipalities, upper-tier municipalities coordinate with their local municipalities throughout the delineation process.

City of Toronto: MTSA delineation in progress

On August 4, 2020, the City of Toronto started its MCR exercise, which includes a phased approach to delineating all MTSAs in the city.

To inform the process and determine density calculations, the city will conduct local area studies for some MTSAs, and will also apply outcomes from recently completed planning studies in order to avoid duplicating work. Due to the high number of MTSAs in the city (approximately 180), staff are implementing a three-phase approach to delineating and setting the density targets of all MTSAs. The table below sets out the criteria that informs the phase selection. Read the city’s full list of MTSAs, broken down by phase.

In Toronto, when determining PMTSA candidacy, City staff will evaluate based on the following key considerations:

• Enabling transit-oriented development (TOD);
• Facilitating large-scale revitalization;
• Implementing inclusionary zoning; and
• Building on recently completed planning studies where significant work was conducted to put in a place the required level of specificity described above.

Takeaway

Delineating MTSAs is a complex exercise that considers numerous factors, such as infrastructure, transportation corridors, environmental features, existing built form, heritage and employment areas, all of which have an effect on the uniformity of delineated boundaries. In the end, the perfect 500-800 metre radii that we are used to will no longer be the case and a more realistic representation of transit-oriented intensification areas will take shape.

¹ In the case of upper-tier municipalities that choose to undertake this process, the upper-tier official plans must be updated to require the relevant lower-tier official plan(s), to include policies addressing authorized uses and minimum densities in the area.