The Orbit

Minister's Zoning Order and Transit-Oriented Communities

A Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) was initiated to provide economic certainty for private investment in the necessary infrastructure and to help expedite the development of the proposed Innisfil GO Station. An MZO was issued on August 6, 2021 and includes regulations for two zones: Transit-Oriented Community 1 (TOC 1) and Transit-Oriented Community 2 (TOC 2). The MZO regulations are embedded in the Secondary Plan, providing direction related to maximum heights, minimum densities and land uses.

A Transit Oriented Community (TOC) as per the Transit-Oriented Communities Act, 2020 can be defined as, “a development connected with the construction or operation of a transit station that is part of a priority transit project, and includes a development located on transit corridor land within the Building Transit Faster Act, 2020.”

Transit-Oriented Community 1

TOC 1 includes all lands within a 225-metre radius of the intersection of 6th Line and the rail corridor. The MZO directs that TOC 1 shall have:

• A wide range of permitted residential and non-residential land uses
• A minimum density of 200 dwelling units per hectare
• Minimum building heights of 6-storeys and maximum building heights of 40-storeys

Transit-Oriented Community 2

TOC 2 includes lands within a 225-metre to 425-metre radius from the intersection of 6th Line and the Metrolinx Barrie rail corridor. The MZO directs that TOC 2 shall have:

• A wide range of permitted residential and non-residential land uses
• A minimum density of 150 dwelling units per hectare
• Minimum building heights of 4-storeys and maximum building heights of 15-storeys, unless the building fronts onto 6th Line, in which case maximum heights are 25-storeys

Transit-Oriented Community 3

TOC 3 refers to the extent of the Secondary Plan Area beyond a 425-metre radius from the intersection of 6th Line and the Metrolinx Barrie rail corridor. The MZO does not provide regulatory direction for TOC 3. While the TOC 3 area is not subject to the MZO, the planning for the TOC 3 lands will respond to the development and infrastructure that is currently being implemented within the TOC 1 and TOC 2 MZO lands.

Orbit Secondary Plan (Official Plan Amendment)

A Secondary Plan is a land use plan for a particular area of a municipality that:

• Is prepared as an amendment to the Official Plan
• Establishes more detailed policies for the area it covers
• Often provides direction with respect to land uses, building heights, public spaces, parks and urban design
• Promotes a desired type of form of development and infrastructure

The Orbit Secondary Plan was approved by Town Council on February 28, 2024. It will require final approval by the County of Simcoe. It covers themes such as:

• Land use
• Mobility
• Public spaces
• Recreation
• Built form
• Road networks

Orbit Master Servicing Plan

We're working on the Orbit Servicing Master Plan which addresses the Orbit's potential infrastructure needs. Information on when the plan will be published for public review to come.

Orbit Stormwater Master Servicing Plan

The Town of Innisfil is creating a Stormwater Master Servicing Plan (MSP) for the proposed new community of Orbit. The MSP will help to:

• Develop a preferred strategy for the effective management of stormwater
• Identify and rank areas of concern
• Identify opportunities to create a plan for cost-effective and environmentally sustainable alternatives

The study area is shown in the image below. For now, the study includes the first two phases of development. The third phase may be included later in the study.

Provincial Framework (Province of Ontario)

Ontario Planning Act

The Ontario Planning Act is provincial legislation that sets out the ground rules for land use planning in Ontario. It describes how land uses may be controlled and who may control them.

The Planning Act sets outs matters of provincial interest that apply to the Orbit Potential and Innovation Plan, including: 

• Adequate provision and efficient use of communication, transportation, sewage and water services, and waste management services
• Orderly development of safe and healthy communities
• Adequate provision of a full range of housing, including affordable housing
• Adequate provision of employment opportunities
• Identifying the appropriate location of growth and development
• Promotion of sustainable development
• Promotion of built form that is well-designed, encourages a sense of place, and provides high quality, safe, accessible and vibrant public spaces

Provincial Policy Statement

The Town of Innisfil is committed to grow in line with the Provincial Policy Statement and the Places to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (“Growth Plan"). These provincial policies provide a framework that supports the growth of stronger, complete communities, a thriving economy, a clean and healthy environment, and social equity.

Minister's Zoning Order

Section 47 of the Planning Act allows the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to make “Minister’s Zoning Orders” to govern land uses within areas subject to the order.

An MZO was issued on August 6, 2021 and includes regulations for two zones: Transit Oriented Community Zones 1 and 2. Note the MZO related to Orbit only applies to 425-metre radius from the centre of Orbit Project Study Area (intersection of the 6th Line and rail corridor). 

Regional Framework (County of Simcoe)

Simcoe County’s Official Plan 

Simcoe County’s Official Plan provides policies for growth management and intensification that emphasize complete communities and transit-supportive development.

The general location of the Orbit is at the south-west corner of the settlement area of Alcona. It is currently identified within parts of the Settlement Area, Rural, Greenlands, and Agricultural land use designations according to Schedule 5.1 of the County Official Plan. 

The Official Plan provides policies for growth management and intensification that emphasize complete communities and transit-supportive development.

Simcoe County's Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR)

The Government of Ontario requires municipalities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe to review their long-term growth plans to set an overall pattern of development and environmental management until the year 2051. The Town of Innisfil contributes to the Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) led by the County of Simcoe, the upper-tier municipality in which we are situated.

The County must plan for a future population of 555,000 by 2051. As part of this overall growth to 2051, the County's Draft Land Needs Assessment is allocating a total population for Innisfil of about 85,000 people (growth of 40,000 from 2021-2051) and 26,000 jobs (growth of 16,000 from 2021-2051). The County of Simcoe has estimated that at least 7,700 people will live in Orbit’s TOC 1 and TOC 2 though their preliminary Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) process. This minimum growth is anticipated up to 2051, however, future MCR processes will re-examine population growth within Innisfil.

Municipal Framework (Town of Innisfil)

Innisfil's Official Plan

Innisfil’s Official Plan, "Our Place" came into effect on November 13, 2018. Part A: Making Our Place Great sets the tone of the Official Plan, which places a strong emphasis on placemaking. Placemaking is an approach to the planning, design and management of places based around strengthening the connection between people and the places they share.

‘Our Place’ recognizes the proposed GO Station and identifies part of the Orbit as a Major Transit Station Area (MTSA), which is generally defined as the area within an approximate 500-metre radius of a transit station, representing about a 10-minute walk. OPIP will seek to expand this area in the Official to reflect the Orbit Vision.

OPIP

The Orbit Potential & Innovation Plan (OPIP) is a coordinated Master Servicing Plan and Secondary Plan that collectively will guide proposed development within Orbit by implementing a clear vision for a complete cutting-edge community where our small town and rural lifestyles are enhanced by the benefits and attributes of urban living. The two main components of the OPIP are the Secondary Plan and Master Servicing Plan: 

• The Orbit Secondary Plan will help us understand land use opportunities in the Orbit area. It will guide local policy development unique to Orbit and will be adopted into the Official Plan. The Plan will provide the most desired types of development for Orbit, informed through community engagement. 

• The Orbit Master Servicing Plan will identify the infrastructure requirements needed to support the Orbit area (water, wastewater, stormwater and mobility). The Master Servicing Plan will be undertaken to meet the requirements of a Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment (EA), including Phases 1 and 2 of the Class EA process.