Open House Questions & Answers

This review will consider if the current densities prescribed in the Secondary Plan continue to be appropriate for new development in Glen Williams. We know that one of the strategic goals of the Town’s Official Plan is to permit development within the Hamlets that maintains and enhances hamlet character. 

The Growth Plan also speaks about limiting growth in hamlets and rural settlement areas. There are a number of objectives in the current secondary plan that refer to how growth in hamlets should contribute to the compact character of the hamlet. 

We are looking for input from the community to ensure that those goals and objectives regarding growth and density are still applicable today.

The review will be revisiting the existing transportation policies including policies related to promoting different modes of transportation such as cycling and walking. 

As part of this review, we considered initiatives the Town has already undertaken to implement many traffic calming and pedestrian safety measures in the Hamlet as a result of the 2009 Traffic Study and as documented in the update to Council in July 2020. 

In addition, we will consider the review of ongoing studies such as the Active Transportation Master Plan which is currently developing an implementation strategy; the Transit Service Strategy which is currently in the implementation phase; and the Halton Hills Town-wide Parking Study, which is underway and will be finalized in late 2020.

The draft background report and other project documents are accessible on Let’s Talk Halton Hills. We encourage you to review the materials and send us your comments or questions.

With the exception of the second phase of Bishop’s Court, the Region requires all development to be on full municipal services. For the existing community, there is a Regional provision that the connection of existing development to municipal services will occur when it is prudent or feasible i.e. public health, environmental reasons. 

The Town has reached out to the Region to see if there are plans in their capital program to connect the existing community to the sewer system.  

Wildwood Road does not permit heavy vehicles unless for local deliveries. Recent increase in heavy vehicles is not supposed to happen and the Town is working to address this. The volume as of 2019 is 4,200 vehicles, and there is some cut through traffic between Highway 7 and Confederation St. Overall the growth is about 1.8% / year over the past 11 years, which is reasonable.

The Town understands concerns related to the need for sidewalks in the area, and staff will look at this as part of the proposed development (102 Confederation St). Plans exist over the long term for sidewalk construction but the Town is looking to move it up as part of the development to install sidewalks sooner.

Town staff have a number of applications in Glen Williams, some have been filed for a number of years, and one is before the LPAT. Applications not at the LPAT are obligated to be processed by the Town so there are no plans to put any applications on hold at this time.

The Secondary Plan review is looking at natural heritage boundaries to ensure they are consistent with Regional and Conservation Authority mapping. Most significant areas of trees will be protected, some may be removed as part of developments. 

A Tree Management Study is ongoing, and tree preservation/compensation is considered as part of subdivision review process to make sure trees are replaced appropriately.

There are requirements under the Planning Act to convey open space as part of applications. The Secondary Plan is looking at how and where open space is provided. The review of the Secondary Plan can deal with the location and design of open space, including accessibility and usage, as well as trails.

The Planning Act does allow for individuals / owners to submit applications to amend the plan to increase density, and the request is assessed based on current policies. As part of the review, we are assessing current policies and will determine which areas need to be enhanced.

The Secondary Plan deals with a number of things, including development that occurs on streets, i.e. infill development. It also includes policies for streets themselves, such as the preferred cross sections, and whether they have a rural or urban design.  

Yes, there are different tools and options that will be implemented through this review process, Town staff will continue to review these through the process. 

Absolutely, there are a number of tools, which are detailed in the mini-presentations, and including the Planning Act and Ontario Heritage Act. A review of best practices will inform our work. 

Provincial policy relating to broader goals and objectives is very important for directions to growth and development, but there are several other policies. The most important vehicle for implementing these policies is the Official Plan (includes Secondary Plans) which intends to balance all policies with the local context. 

In the Glen, the natural heritage system and cultural heritage resources are important for Town staff to look at when updating policies. Balancing policies in that context is one of the key things as part of our review.

Town staff must review all policies as a whole when considering an application. The Glen is an area where limited development is to occur moving forward.

Yes, cultural heritage resources are currently designated and listed properties under the Ontario Heritage Act. Key findings include that the heritage character is not well defined, which can include key features and relationships which create a unique sense of place. Defining this character will help to ensure it is preserved and enhanced. 

Natural resources are identified in Figure 17 of the background report which includes the Town and Regional natural heritage systems /features and Conservation Authority features. 

There were 71 attendees in total.

Recent traffic calming improvements on Prince St. include the installation of a speed hump, white edge lanes and yellow centre lanes to narrow travel lanes. 

Slow pavement markings on Wildwood have been added and the Town is experimenting with flexible bollards which work well but have been vandalized. 

The Town is looking to implement more as they are proving to be effective in addressing traffic calming.

One section of Confederation is a minor arterial and for this section the Town may add edge lines and further parking restrictions to narrow travel lanes. 

For Confederation north of Wildwood to the Glen Williams boundary, the Town is looking at the implementation of retractable bollards and message boards to address aggressive driving and speeding in the area. 

It is noted that most drivers speeding in this area are local residents.

The Town is hoping to have an updated Secondary Plan to Council for approval in 2021. Applications currently submitted will be reviewed under the current policies and Town staff have the ability to consider new policies and their impact on development applications, as relevant policies but not determinative policies. 

Staff can look for opportunities to work with the development community to implement these.

Generally, they apply now for new subdivision development, but this will need to be reviewed as part of the review process. We rely on a minimum lot size approach in established areas, which controls density. This will need to be reviewed to see if an approach such as units per hectare on a broader basis should be considered.

Confederation N of Main St. is identified in the capital forecast 2026/2027, but based on proposed new development (102 Confederation St.), this will be evaluated.

Setback guidelines are from the CVC from the early 2000s. Since then their policies have been updated, and a Regional Natural Heritage System (RNHS) has been implemented which provides guidelines on buffers. 

The 20 m buffer zone is different, and is a notion of a naturalized buffer around the hamlet to establish a defined edge. This will be considered in the review process and we are looking for comments on the effectiveness of these policies.

Please refer to the response from Question #4.

Your input will help Town staff with their review of the plan which includes the following key components: transportation, servicing, land use, natural and cultural heritage, and growth management.    

This review will not look at a boundary expansion for the Hamlet of Glen Williams. There are sites designated for development under the existing plan. 

Please refer to the Areas for Review slides regarding Growth Management which highlight the remaining vacant sites with development applications under review.

Please refer to the Areas for Review slides regarding Growth Management which highlight the remaining vacant sites with development applications under review.

Please refer to the response from question #7.

Through the Glen Williams Mature Neighbourhoods Study, the Secondary Plan was updated to address the concerns related to the construction of large scale residential rebuilds on the character and appearance of the mature neighbourhoods of Glen Williams. 

More information regarding the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments that resulted from the Glen Williams Mature Neighbourhood Study.

Through the process, the Town is consulting with all residents, businesses and landowners in Glen Williams. All opportunities for future engagement will be posted on Let’s Talk Halton Hills. 

If residents have additional questions or comment that they want to discuss with Town staff, please contact planning@haltonhills.ca or 905-873-2600 Ext. 2900.

There is no specific plan to install a sidewalk on Prince St. However, Active Transportation will be evaluated as part of the road design. The Town anticipates that the preferred design concept for Prince St. should be ready by 2022.

Town staff propose to reinstall the flexible bollards on Wildwood Road in spring 2021 to reduce speeding on Wildwood Road. The traffic volume generated by the new development near Wildwood Road is not expected to be an issue.

It is anticipated that Main St. will be evaluated in the near future from the northerly bridge to the end of the urban area. The Town will review the feasibility of active transportation and traffic calming as part of the project.

The traffic study on Wildwood Road identified during the virtual open house was undertaken in 2019 by the Town. In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, we are experiencing lower than usual traffic volumes.