GRIDS 2 and Municipal Comprehensive Review

The City of Hamilton is updating its Growth Management Strategy, known as GRIDS 2. The City will also be completing a Municipal Comprehensive Review concurrently with GRIDS 2.

What is GRIDS?

In 2006, City Council approved the first Growth Related Integrated Development Strategy (GRIDS) (PDF, 28 MB). GRIDS was an integrated planning process that identified a broad land use structure, associated infrastructure, economic development strategy and financial implications for growth options to serve Hamilton for 30 years. GRIDS planned for growth up to 2031. 

GRIDS needs to be updated to plan for the next 10 years of growth, to 2041. This update will be known as GRIDS 2.

The Province of Ontario provides population and employment growth forecasts for Hamilton through the  Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

GRIDS 2 will plan for how and where this additional population and employment growth can be accommodated, and will determine the impact on the Infrastructure Master Plans (Water / Wastewater, Stormwater, Transportation).

What is the Municipal Comprehensive Review?

A municipal comprehensive review (MCR) is a requirement of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) at the time of an Official Plan review, and must be completed prior to any expansion of the urban boundary. The MCR is the process by which the City brings its Official Plans into conformity with updated Provincial plans.

Many of the studies that are required as part of the MCR are also required as part of GRIDS 2. Therefore, the City has determined that it is appropriate to combine GRIDS 2 and the MCR into one integrated process, resulting in a transparent and straightforward process in which to involve stakeholders and citizens.

One component of the MCR is the Employment Land Review which is currently underway.

Staff reports

• GRIDS 2 and Municipal Comprehensive Review - Work Plan and Consultation Update (PED17010(b))
• GRIDS 2 and Municipal Comprehensive Review (PED17100) 
• GRIDS 2 Growth Summary 2006 - 2016 (PDF17100a) 
  • The GRIDS 2 Growth Summary 2006 - 2016 (PDF, 8 MB) is a background document that provides a summary of the City’s growth and development in the first 10 years since the adoption of GRIDS in 2006. The Growth Summary covers many topics including:
    • population and demographic changes
    • intensification and density information
    • greenfield development
    • rural area development
    • employment information

Project timeline

Consultation update

• The first round of Open Houses, scheduled for Spring 2018, will provide an overview of the project, background information, urban structure review and a focus on Major Transit Station Area Planning.
• The second round of Open Houses, tentatively scheduled for November/December 2018, will provide updates on various technical studies (residential intensification, housing, employment) and will provide the results of the Land Needs Assessment. 
• The third round of Open Houses, tentatively scheduled for Spring 2019, will focus on the results of the growth options evaluation, if required based on the results of the Land Needs Assessment. 

Contact us

Heather Travis
City Hall, 4th floor
Phone: 905-546-2424 ext. 4168
​Email: grids2-mcr@hamilton.ca