In February 2003, Hamilton City Council authorized staff to develop a new Official Plan for the City. The development of a new Official Plan for the amalgamated City requires a great deal of work in several strategic areas, including but not limited to: rural policy, commercial policy, residential intensification, parks and open space, and cultural heritage.
The development of a new OP for the City occurred in two Phases. The first phase culminated in the completion of the Rural Hamilton Official Plan in 2006. The Rural Official Plan was approved by the Province in December 2008, but is currently under appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.
The Urban Hamilton Official Plan was completed in July 2009 and is awaiting approval from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The Urban Hamilton Official Plan background studies, used for policy development, are available to view.
Several Corporate Projects are integrated with the development of the new Official Plan: Vision 2020, the GRIDS project, Social Development Strategy and Master Plans and the Human Services Plan. All programs are linked through an initiative called Building a Strong Foundation. "Building a Strong Foundation" (BASF) is an initiative coordinated by the City that takes a cross-disciplinary, integrative and community-based approach to implementing Hamilton’s Vision for a sustainable future.