April 2012 Ontario Economic Fundamentals

[Ally]

Road clear for Sheppard LRT




It`s official: The board of Metrolinx has unanimously approved a plan that will see light rail running on its own right-of-way down the middle of Sheppard Ave. East by the end of 2018.




It officially returns Toronto`s transit expansion to the light-rail plan agreed to under former mayor David Miller and reaffirmed by Toronto City Council in February and March.




The Wednesday Metrolinx vote effectively shuts the door on Mayor Rob Ford`s hopes of extending the Sheppard `stubway,` although it is unlikely there will be any track laid on that road before the next municipal election in fall 2014.





Read the full article here.

 

[Ally]

Second units in Brampton under review




The City of Brampton is reviewing its planning policies to allow for second units in homes. A second unit is self-contained with kitchen and bathroom facilities, as well as a separate means of access. Second units may also be referred to as accessory or basement apartments, secondary units/suites, two-unit housing, `granny flats` and in-law flats.




The review is being conducted following introduction of Bill 140 by the provincial government, which made changes to the Planning Act requiring municipalities to allow for second units as part of their planning policies in order to provide additional opportunities for affordable housing in Ontario.





Second units were permitted in Brampton prior to 1998 and there are approximately 2,800 registered second units in the City. Bill 140 does not mean that existing illegal second units now become legal, nor does it allow for the construction of new units until the City finalizes its second unit policy, a statement issued by Brampton City clarifies.





Read the full article here.

 

[Ally]

Waterloo's new land-use plan addresses its diminishing space




WATERLOO ` City council has endorsed an important new plan to guide how land is used in Waterloo.




It`s the first revision since 1990 and it envisions a city with people and buildings packed more densely onto land, in particular in areas where traffic and transit are busy.




It envisions land being used in a more mixed way, including for community gardens. Homes, workplaces and businesses will be closer together and will more often share buildings, rather than being segregated.





Read the full article here.

 

[Ally]

Light rail is here! Surely something will go wrong




On Wednesday, Metrolinx reinstated plans to build four light-rail lines in Toronto after a year and a half of delays triggered by Mayor Rob Ford`s attempt to cancel the project in favour of his own preferred transit plan. And yet, even with Ford`s fight against light rail apparently at an end, there are still ways the project could run into difficulties before its expected completion, in 2020.






The Next Municipal Election Metrolinx plans to start construction on street-level light rail in 2014, which coincidentally is when the next municipal election will be held. If Mayor Ford wins another term, it might be difficult for him to use his mandate as leverage for stopping the project a second time. But he could try.





Read the full article here.