Council Public Meeting - June 24
- Marian
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Council Public Meeting Tuesday June 24, 2025 at 7pm
Meeting Agenda: Meeting Agenda
Watch Meeting: City's YouTube or Livestream
On the Agenda:
Richmond Hill is updating its zoning rules for various parts of the city—including neighbourhoods, employment lands, green spaces, and more—to match the city’s updated Official Plan and provincial rules. This is a draft proposal, and the city is asking for feedback from the public and Council.
🗺️ Areas Affected
The zoning changes apply to:
Neighbourhoods (including North Leslie and West Gormley)
Greenway System (protected natural lands)
Employment Lands (business parks and industrial areas)
Leslie Street Institutional Area
Utility Corridors (like pipelines and railway lines)
🎯 Why Now?
Ontario law says zoning by-laws must be updated within 3 years of updating an Official Plan.
Richmond Hill is updating its Official Plan, so it must also update zoning to match.
The city also received federal funding (Housing Accelerator Fund) to speed up housing development—including more affordable homes.
🧭 What’s Included in the Draft Zoning?
A complete reorganization of zoning categories and rules.
Specific zones for residential, commercial, institutional, environmental, and employment areas.
Adjustments to reflect changes in provincial planning policies (e.g., new limits on what’s allowed in employment zones).
Updated rules for infill development, parking, landscaping, and mixed-use buildings.
📣 What Have Residents Said?
At public open houses, residents raised concerns about:
How zoning will impact parking, short-term rentals, and driveways.
Protecting neighbourhood character amid infill housing (e.g., lot sizes, building height).
More community amenities (e.g., parks, daycares, places of worship).
Ensuring natural features are protected.
Supporting aging in place (like allowing small-scale seniors housing).
🛠️ Next Steps
City staff will collect and review comments from the public and Council.
Further refinements will be made to the draft zoning by-law.
A finalized version will be presented at a future meeting.
💵 Funding Note
This project is tied to federal housing funding, so Richmond Hill must meet certain deadlines and housing targets to continue receiving money.
Public Comments:
The public may submit written correspondence regarding agenda matters by email to clerks@richmondhill.ca. Written correspondence must be submitted by 12 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Comments submitted will be provided to all Members of Council, considered as public information and noted in the public record.
Delegations:
No prior registration is required to make an in-person Delegation, but is encouraged. Prior registration is required should the public intend to make an electronic delegation by video conference or telephone. Applications to appear as a delegation must be submitted by 12 p.m. on the day of the meeting by email to clerks@richmondhill.ca or by using the on-line application form. The Office of the Clerk will provide instructions on appearing as a delegation.