FAQs
- Recognize Neighbourhood Plans, and
- Require development to consider their policies where applicable.
What is a Neighbourhood Plan?
A Neighbourhood Plan is a document that guides how land is used in a specific neighbourhood. It is typically a land use map but may also include a text document with policies on housing, land use, and neighbourhood design. Neighbourhoods Plans are used by City of Hamilton staff for guidance when reviewing development proposals. Neighbourhood Plans are not part of the City’s Official Plan, so they are guidance documents and do not have statutory authority to direct land use changes.
Why is the City reviewing Neighbourhood Plans?
Most of the City’s 67 Neighbourhood Plans were created between the 1960s and 1990s. They were used as a tool to help guide development and other land use matters within Neighbourhoods. Over time, the planning framework in Ontario and Hamilton has changed significantly. Most land use changes are now guided by other policy tools, like Provincial policy, Official Plans, and Secondary Plans, as well as newer master plans that guide the provision of services; like the City's Transportation Master Plan, the Hamilton Parks Master Plan, and the City's Recreation Master Plan.
Many of the Neighbourhood Plans are outdated and conflict with newer policies that allow more flexibility and a wider variety of housing options within neighbourhoods. Outdated plans can result in unnecessary added review for development proposals and create a lack of clarity on policy directions. It also limits the usefulness of the plans to provide guidance for a neighbourhood. This review aims to remove conflicts and support a clearer planning framework for development across the city.
What is changing in my neighbourhood?
The review is focused on confirming whether Neighbourhood Plans still provide valuable direction for land use outside of other existing policies and plans. The project is not intended to re-envision what a neighbourhood should look like or change its existing character. Where a plan is recommended to be kept, changes could include removing outdated policies and aligning the plan with current Council approved zoning and housing policies.
Why are some Neighbourhood Plans being considered for removal?
Some plans no longer reflect how neighbourhoods are built today, and duplicate or conflict with newer planning policies. Some plans were created to direct development in unbuilt areas, and have now been fully built out.
How does this relate to housing and affordability?
The City has updated zoning rules City-wide to allow more housing types in residential areas. This helps increase housing supply and improve affordability.
Some Neighbourhood Plans limit these options and do not align with existing zoning rules, so reviewing them helps ensure policies support a wider range of housing choices.
How will decisions be made?
The City has developed a set of evaluation criteria to review each Neighbourhood Plan. Public feedback will be used to refine these criteria before decisions are made. There will be additional opportunities in the second phase of the project to provide input on the review of each plan and preliminary recommendations. The final decision on changes will be made by Hamilton City Council.
Does this project create new Neighbourhood Plans?
No. This project only reviews existing plans.
How does this affect development in my area?
No specific impacts on development are anticipated. Updating or removing plans may simplify review processes for proposals, reduce duplication, and better align decisions with current policies.
Do Neighbourhood Plans have legal authority under the Planning Act?
No. Neighbourhood Plans are not statutory documents under the Planning Act.
They are considered tertiary planning documents, meaning they are adopted by Council resolution and provide guidance, but they do not have the same legal authority as the Official Plan or Zoning By-law.
While they may be used to help evaluate development proposals, they cannot override statutory planning documents governed by the Planning Act.
Are Neighbourhood Plans part of the Urban Hamilton Official Plan?
No. Neighbourhood Plans do not form part of the Urban Hamilton Official Plan.
However, the Official Plan includes policies that:
Any amendments to a Neighbourhood Plan require a formal Council decision, but they are not subject to the same statutory process as Official Plan amendments.
What is the difference between a Neighbourhood Plan and a Secondary Plan?
Secondary Plans are part of the Official Plan and have full legal authority under the Ontario Planning Act. They provide detailed land use policies for specific areas and must be consistent with Provincial policy and must conform to the Official Plan.
Neighbourhood Plans are not part of the Official Plan and do not have the same legal status. They are guidance documents that can inform decision-making but may be updated or repealed more flexibly.
In general, Secondary Plans are the primary tool for detailed area planning, while Neighbourhood Plans are supplementary.