Bronte GO MTSA

As part of the town’s Official Plan Review, the town completed a study of the Bronte GO Station and surrounding area, known as a “major transit station area” or MTSA. 

The study developed an Area Specific Plan for the Bronte GO MTSA to create a complete, transit-supportive community that accommodates future population and employment growth and development around the Bronte GO station.

Understanding major transit station areas

A major transit station area is a location that combines the town-wide transportation system, allows easy access to transit and transit connections, and provides a focus for transit-supportive development. 

Provincial policies require municipal official plans to put in place plans for major transit station areas on higher order transit corridors that include a minimum density target of residents and jobs in order to create complete, transit-supportive communities.  

Reason for the study

Provincial policies and official plan amendments brought forward as part of the town’s Urban Structure Review, identified the Bronte GO Station as a major transit station area which needed to be studied. 

The purpose of the study was to provide updated and new policies to be incorporated into the town's official plan, to map out the boundary of the major transit station area, the mix of land uses and the intensity and scale of future development.

Location

Provincial policies identify an MTSA as the area within an approximate 500 to 800 metre radius of a higher order transit station, representing about a 10-minute walk. Provincial policies also state that the boundary of an MTSA must be outlined in a transit-supportive manner that maximizes the size of the area and the number of potential transit users that are within walking distance of the station.

An MTSA boundary (pdf) was determined as part of the study.

Official Plan Amendment

On November 1, 2021, Council passed a by-law to adopt Official Plan Amendment 41 (OPA 41) for the Bronte GO Major Transit Station Area. OPA 41 was sent to Halton Region for final approval.

• Adopted Official Plan Amendment 41 – Bronte GO MTSA
• Staff Report – Planning and Development Council Agenda – Item 7.1

On November 25, 2022, Halton Region approved the town initiated Official Plan Amendment (OPA 41), with modifications.

• Notice of Decision and Regional Modifications (OPA 41)

The council adopted OPA 41 must be read in conjunction with the modifications made by Halton Region in their Notice of Decision. 

The Bronte GO MTSA is also identified as a “protected” MTSA, or PMTSA. PMTSAs are MTSAs that have been specifically identified as “protected” by a municipality, and for which specific Official Plan policies have been incorporated as required by the Planning Act. The establishment of PMTSAs plays a key role in implementing inclusionary zoning to require/provide affordable housing in new developments.

Result

An Area Specific Plan to guide how the Bronte GO Station and surrounding area will grow and change in the future is now in force and effect. 

The Area Specific Plan is supported by a number of technical studies, and provides policy direction on:

• delineated boundary of the MTSA;
• mix of land uses, including building heights and density;
• transportation, including transit and active transportation;
• municipal infrastructure improvements including community facilities;
• urban design and public realm improvements; and,
• implementation tools

Next steps

Additional detailed technical studies are required to advance the planning for the Bronte GO MTSA, including an Area Servicing Plan and detailed Transportation Study. Town staff continue to work with Halton Region.