Lincoln Fields Secondary Plan and the New Official Plan

The purpose of a secondary plan is to adapt land use planning policies provided by an Official Plan to address local context. With that in mind, it is important to understand what the newly adopted Official Plan says about the Lincoln Fields Station Area in order to inform what policy direction may be required in order to achieve priorities for this area.

Here is what the newly adopted Official Plan says about planning and development in the Lincoln Fields Station Area

Inner Urban Transect

The study area is located within the Inner Urban Transect. This Transect surrounds the Downtown Core Transect and is characterized by its mix of urban and suburban built form. The objectives for the Inner Urban Transect is to see it become more urbanized with high-density mixed-use development and reliant on sustainable modes of transportation. This also includes making walkability and cycling a priority by limiting car-oriented development such as surface parking, drive-throughs, and service stations. Infill and redevelopment of old shopping centres is also a focus as these forms of development are opportunities for creating complete communities and expanding housing choices.

Hubs

The new Official Plan designates lands around Lincoln Fields Station as a Hub. Hubs are major destinations on the rapid transit network. They are the focus for density and urban development which may include major employment and permit the greatest heights. Hubs are intended to contribute to 15-minute neighbourhoods. In the Inner Urban Transect, buildings within 400 metres walking distance of a rapid transit station shall generally be high-rise.

Carling Avenue and Richmond Road designated as Mainstreet Corridors

The new Official Plan designates Carling Avenue and Richmond Road as Mainstreet Corridors. Mainstreets are intended to provide for daily and weekly services to those who live and work nearby. Built form along mainstreets is intended to be mid- to high-rise.

Evolving Neighbourhood Overlay

The new Official Plan now includes overlays which provide direction for a change in character in the designated areas. Areas designated as Evolving Neighbourhood are experiencing rapid change in urbanization from low to high density. The intention of the policies applied to lands designated as Evolving Neighbourhood Overlay is to limit low density built form and car-oriented development such as private approaches, as well as ensure positive contributions to the public realm. This overlay is intended on supporting amendments to the Zoning By-law to permit higher densities in low-rise areas. Lands within the Lincoln Fields Station Study Area are subject to this overlay.

Protected Major Transit Station Area

Protected Major Transit Station Areas (PMTSAs) are a discretionary tool that municipalities may use in order to establish transit-supportive densities within a designated area that surrounds a rapid transit station area. The new Official Plan designates lands within the Lincoln Fields Station Area as PMTSA. Policies within the new Official Plan for PMTSAs include establishing a minimum density target of 200 people/jobs per gross hectare. This will be achieved through medium to high density housing developments and commercial and employment uses. Establishing a PMTSA also provides the municipality with an opportunity to apply inclusionary zoning provisions which promotes the supply of affordable housing.