
GRIDS 2 and Municipal Comprehensive Review
Project Update
The City of Hamilton has forwarded the Council-adopted Urban Hamilton Official Plan Amendment No. 167 and Rural Hamilton Official Plan Amendment No. 34 to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for Ministerial Approval, representing the completion of Phase 1: Conformity Review – Urban Focused Review and the GRIDS2/Municipal Comprehensive Review processes.
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 City’s population and job growth to 2051. This update is 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 10 Directions to Guide Development
GRIDS 2 is being guided by the GRIDS 2 10 Directions to Guide Development, endorsed by Council in December 2020. This will provide a tool to guide and evaluate decisions related to growth.
- Plan for climate change mitigation and adaptation, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Encourage a compatible mix of uses in neighbourhoods, including a range of housing types and affordabilities, that provide opportunities to live, work, learn, shop and play, promoting a healthy, safe and complete community.
- Concentrate new development and infrastructure within existing built-up areas and within the urban boundary through intensification and adaptive re-use.
- Protect rural areas for a viable rural economy, agricultural resources, environmentally sensitive recreation and the enjoyment of the rural landscape.
- Design neighbourhoods to improve access to community life for all, regardless of age, ethnicity, race, gender, ability, income and spirituality.
- Retain and intensify existing employment land, attract jobs in Hamilton’s strength areas and targeted new sectors, and support access to education and training for all residents.
- Expand transportation options through the development of complete streets that encourage travel by foot, bike and transit, and enhance efficient inter-regional transportation connections.
- Maximize the use of existing buildings, infrastructure, and vacant or abandoned land.
- Protect ecological systems and the natural environment, reduce waste, improve air, land and water quality, and encourage the use of green infrastructure.
- Maintain and create attractive public and private spaces and respect the unique character of existing buildings, neighbourhoods and communities, protect cultural heritage resources, and support arts and culture as an important part of community identity.
Between the years 2021 and 2051, Hamilton is expected to grow by 236,000 people and 122,000 jobs.
Disclaimer: This video explains the GRIDS2 and MCR process but references growth forecasts to the year 2041, whereas Amendment 1 to the Growth Plan 2019 provides growth forecasts to 2051.
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 the City’s 5-year Official Plan review. The MCR is the process by which the City brings its Official Plans into conformity with updated policies of the various Provincial plans which apply to Hamilton (PPS, Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, Niagara Escarpment Plan, Greenbelt Plan). The population and job forecasts of the Growth Plan to 2051 need to be planned for and accommodated through the MCR.
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.
For more information on the conformity exercise and other Official Plan Policy changes, visit Official Plan Review.
Staff reports
- November 9, 2021
- Staff Report - PED17010(m) - Urban Growth City-Wide Consultation Summary Report (PDF, 365 KB)
- Appendix A - Urban Growth Survey Mail-out (PDF, 304 KB)
- Appendix B - Survey Results by Postal Code FSA (PDF, 217 KB)
- Appendix C-1 - Option 1 Public Comments (Email) (PDF, 290 KB)
- Appendix C-2 - Option 1 Public Comments (Mail) (PDF, 515 KB)
- Appendix D-1 - Option 2 Public Comments (Email) (PDF, 1 MB)
- Appendix D-2 - Option 2 Public Comments (Mail) (PDF, 2 MB)
- Appendix E-1 - Option 3 Public Comments (Email) (PDF, 520 KB)
- Appendix E-2 - Option 3 Public Comment (Mail) (PDF, 579 KB)
- Staff Report PED17010(n) - Final Land Needs Assessment and Addendum and Peer Review Results
- Appendix A - City of Hamilton Land Needs Assessment to 2051 (PDF, 6 MB)
- Appendix A1 - Addendum to Land Needs Assessment (PDF, 5 MB)
- Appendix B - Land Needs Assessment Peer Review (PDF, 3 MB)
- Appendix C - City of Hamilton Residential Intensification Market Demand Analysis (PDF, 8 MB)
- Appendix D - Residential Intensification Supply Update (PDF, 504 KB)
- Appendix E - Existing Designated Greenfield Area Density Analysis (PDF, 1MB)
- Appendix F - Letter from Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Ontario Growth Secretariat) – December 2020 (PDF, 805 KB)
- Appendix F1 - Letter from Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing – September 2021 (PDF, 788 KB)
- Appendix G - Forecast vs Actual Population and Employment Growth, 2006 - 2021 (PDF, 153 KB)
- Staff Report PED17010(o) - “How should Hamilton Grow?” Evaluation (PDF, 752 KB)
- Appendix A - How Should Hamilton Grow? Evaluation Framework (PDF, 47 MB)
- Appendix B - City of Hamilton Land Needs Assessment to 2051 and Addendum (PDF, 7 MB)
- Appendix C - Mapping and Description of Growth Options (PDF, 728 KB)
- Appendix D - Policy Review (PDF, 202 KB)
- Appendix E1- Public comments – How Should Hamilton Grow? Evaluation Framework (August 2021) (PDF, 2 MB)
- Appendix E2 - Public comments – General Comments Received After March 2021 (PDF, 960 KB)
- Appendix E3 - Public Comments – Property Specific Requests (PDF, 936 KB)
- Appendix F - Updated Workplan (PDF, 1 MB)
- Staff Report - PED17010(m) - Urban Growth City-Wide Consultation Summary Report (PDF, 365 KB)
- August 4, 2021
- Staff Report - PED17010(l).pdf
- Appendix A - City of Hamilton GRIDS 2/MCR: Final Growth Evaluation Framework & Phasing Criteria
- (Revised as per Council direction) Appendix A - City of Hamilton GRIDS 2/MCR: Final Growth Evaluation Framework & Phasing Criteria (PDF, 7 MB)
- Appendix B - Revised Evaluation Framework – Waterdown/Binbrook
- Appendix C - Summary of Comments from Public (Engage Hamilton)
- Appendix D - Summary of Comments from Public (Email)
- Appendix E - Summary of Comments from Stakeholders
- Appendix F - Policy Review
- Appendix G - GRIDS 2/MCR workplan
- Staff Report - PED17010(l).pdf
- March 29, 2021: Staff Report PED17010(j) (PDF, 4 MB)
- December 14, 2020: Information Update - GRIDS 2 and Municipal Comprehensive Review – Public Consultation Round 2 and Work Plan Update (PED17010(g))
- December 14, 2020: GRIDS 2 and Municipal Comprehensive Review – Land Needs Assessment and Technical Background Reports (PED17010(h)) - View the complete Land Needs Assessment Report
- October 13, 2020: Information Update - GRIDS 2 and Municipal Comprehensive Review – Land Needs Assessment – Timing Update (PDF, 138 KB)
- June 5, 2020: Information Update - GRIDS 2 and Municipal Comprehensive Review – Timing Update (PDF, 134 KB)
- November 20, 2019: GRIDS 2 and the Municipal Comprehensive Review – Consultation Update and Employment Land Review (PED17010(f))
- October 21, 2019: GRIDS 2 and the Municipal Comprehensive Review – Council Workshop (PED17010(e))
- August 12, 2019: GRIDS 2 and Municipal Comprehensive Review - Work Plan Update (PED17010(d))
- March 20, 2019: GRIDS 2 and Municipal Comprehensive Review - Consultation and Work Plan Update (PED17010(c))
- April 17, 2018: GRIDS 2 and Municipal Comprehensive Review - Work Plan and Consultation Update (PED17010(b))
- GRIDS 2 and Municipal Comprehensive Review (PED17010)
- GRIDS 2 Growth Summary 2006 - 2016 (PED17010a)
- 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 and employment information.
Project timeline
If you would like to be added to the project mailing list and be notified of project updates, please send your contact information to [email protected].
Public consultation
Virtual Open House
Held May 3, 2022
Focus on implement City Council’s direction for the “No Urban Boundary Expansion” growth scenario.
Engagement Summary Report (PDF, 456 KB)
Public Consultation - Round 3
Held January 18 & 20, 2021
Visit Engage Hamilton to learn more, complete a survey and view recordings of the Virtual Information Meetings
Presentation (PDF, 10 MB)
Open House - Round 2
Held November 26 & 28, December 2 & 4, 2019
Focused on presenting the public with information about Intensification (growth focused within the existing Built-up area of the City) and Designated Greenfield Area density (density of community development outside of the Built-up area). Staff also consulted about the GRIDS Directions to Guide Development, as well as the preliminary Employment Land Review conversion requests. Second Round Consultation Summary Report (PDF, 8 MB) | Display panels (PDF, 19 MB)
Council workshop
Held October 21, 2019
Provided an overview of GRIDS and GRIDS 2, a discussion on intensification and density, an explanation of land needs assessment, and a project update. No decisions or recommendations are anticipated from this workshop. Council Workshop Presentation (PDF, 7 MB)
Open House - Round 1
Held May 28, 30 & June 6, 2018
Provided an overview of the GRIDS 2 and MCR project, discussed how growth in the city has occurred in recent years and identifyied strengths and opportunities for change in our land use structure. First Round Consultation Summary Report (PDF, 15 MB)
Display panels:
- Welcome and Project Panels (PDF, 4 MB)
- Built Up Area and Intensification Targets Map (PDF, 1 MB)
- Urban Structure and Node Density Map (PDF, 901 KB)
- Major Transit Station Areas (PDF, 19 MB)
Contact us
Heather Travis
City Hall, 4th floor
Phone: 905-546-2424 ext. 4168
Email: [email protected]
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