Welcome to Forward Vaughan
The City of Vaughan is currently updating the Official Plan to guide land use and development. Vaughan is a fast-growing urban region and economic engine of Ontario that is built with vibrant complete communities for people to work, live, play, and innovate.
Project Status
The Draft New Vaughan Official Plan 2025 is available!
The City is carrying the Project work forward in the Draft New Vaughan Official Plan 2025, the development of which was guided by responsible governance, sustainable planning, economic leadership, transparency, accountability and inclusivity.
The new Draft Vaughan Official Plan 2025 is consistent with new Provincial policies, plans, and growth targets for people and jobs.
Once approved, the new Vaughan Official Plan 2025 will implement the long-term vision for Vaughan, to the year 2051, through land use policies that direct density, housing supply, protection of environmental features and agricultural areas, to create a vibrant city for people to live, work and play. The new The Draft New Vaughan Official Plan 2025 is now available for you to review (Draft Vaughan Official Plan 2025 (Policies) and Draft Vaughan Official Plan (Schedules)) and share your feedback by emailing opmanager@vaughan.ca. Continue to check Forward Vaughan for updates on how to get involved with upcoming engagement events!
Project Timeline
The new Vaughan Official Plan 2025 is targeted for Vaughan Council adoption in Q2 2025. Comments or questions can be submitted by sending an e-mail to opmanager@vaughan.ca.
Getting Involved
On January 22, 2025, the new Draft Vaughan Official Plan 2025 will be presented at a Committee of the Whole Working Session. Please visit the City’s website for more details on how you can participate in this meeting: www.vaughan.ca/council/committees-council-agendas-minutes.
On January 27, 2025, the City will be hosting two Public Open Houses to discuss the City’s Draft Vaughan Official Plan 2025. The City of Vaughan has been working towards creating the new Vaughan Official Plan 2025 to better meet the needs of current and future residents, businesses and those who visit Vaughan.
We want to hear from You! Details for the Public Open House have been provided below. Please drop-in on January 27 to provide your feedback.
Date: Monday January 27, 2025 Location: Vaughan City Hall (2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.).
Time: from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Past Engagement
Phase 1 Visioning and Background Studies
Thank you to everyone who participated in Phase 1! The feedback received will be used to guide the direction of the next phases of the Official Plan.
To see the engagement events completed in Phase 1, please check out the Phase 1 Engagement Summary Report now by visiting this link here or viewing the document in the Document Library located on the right-hand side of the page.
If you are interested in viewing recordings of the Webinar Series please see links below for the recordings.
- Climate Change Resilience and Adaptation | April 20, 2022 | Recording
- Affordable Housing | April 27, 2022 | Recording
- Placemaking | May 9, 2022 | Recording
- Healthy Communities | May 12, 2022 | part 1 Recording and part 2 Recording
Phase 2 Policy Directions
To see the engagement events completed in Phase 2, please check out the Phase 2 Engagement Summary Report now by visiting this link here or viewing the document in the Document Library located on the right-hand side of the page.
The Project Team hosted three Virtual Public Open Houses in November 2022. Interested in viewing the Virtual Public Open House? Please follow the link here to watch a recording of the November 14, 2022 Virtual Public Open House.
- November 14, 2022, from 6pm to 8pm | Recording
Community sessions took place in all Wards throughout June in various Vaughan community centres:
- Ward 1 community session was held at the Pierre Berton Heritage Centre on Monday, June 26, 2023 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Ward 2 community session was held at the Al Palladini Community Centre on Monday, June 5, 2023 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Activity Room #1
- Ward 3 community session was held at the Vellore Village Community Centre on Thursday, June 22, 2023 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Activity Room #2
- Ward 4 Community session was held at the North Thornhill Community Centre on Monday, June 12, 2023 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Activity Room A
- Ward 5 community session was held at the Dufferin Clark Community Centre on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Activity Room #1
Part A OPA Engagement
On Sept. 26, 2023 the City hosted an Open House where participants were able to speak to the City planners updating the Vaughan Official Plan. The Open House was held at the Maple Community Centre from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
A notice for the Public Open House can be found here - Part A OPA Public Open House Notice.
The City of Vaughan hosted a Public Meeting for Part A OPA on Oct. 3, 2023. The Public Meeting was held at Vaughan City Hall, Council Chamber, 2141 Major Mackenzie Drive at 7 p.m.
A notice for the Public Meeting can be found here - Part A OPA Public Meeting Notice. The notice was published on September 8, 2023 and contains additional details regarding participation and the purpose of the application.
About the Project
Vaughan is Growing and Evolving
Vaughan's communities are constantly growing and changing. Vaughan is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada with a population of 340,700 people and 240,100 jobs in 2021. Vaughan's forecasted growth will account for almost one-third of the region's growth over the next three decades. It is important the City plans for new growth in a way that is strategic, thoughtful, appropriate and aligned with what our residents and businesses value most.
The Official Plan is a strategic planning document that establishes a policy framework to guide the physical, social, environmental and economic development of the city. It is a document that:
- Implements goals, objectives and land use policies to serve the city's communities
- Directs density, housing supply, protection of environmental features and agricultural areas, cultural heritage preservation and more
- Guides growth and development to implement the vision for the city's long-term evolution
Updating the Vaughan Official Plan
The updated Official Plan must conform with new Provincial policies and plans, including the Provincial Policy Statement, Greenbelt Plan, Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, and 2051 growth targets for people and jobs. It must also conform with the York Region Official Plan which was approved by the Province on November 4, 2022.
For more information, please check out the FAQ!
The Official Plan Process
The Planning Act is Provincial legislation that sets out the ground rules for land use planning in Ontario. The Planning Act requires municipalities to update their official plans every five to ten years to ensure the plan implements any changes to Provincial policies and plans. The Vaughan Official Plan is being updated to conform to the updated Provincial and Regional policies and plans that direct growth and development in Ontario, including the Provincial Policy Statement, Greenbelt Plan, Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, and the York Region Official Plan.
In addition to updating the Official Plan to meet Provincial and Regional requirements, municipalities can also update and create policies that enhance the quality of life and better meet the needs of current and future residents, visitors, and businesses.
Policy Directions Report
In February 2023, the City released the Policy Directions Report. The policy directions are being used to inform policy development in the updated Official Plan.
The Policy Directions Report can be reviewed via the link below. Any comments to be considered in future policy work can be submitted using the Ideas Tool, or by sending an e-mail to opmanager@vaughan.ca. Access the Policy Directions Report February 2023 - Full Report
Background Studies
The City of Vaughan completed a series of pop-up events across the City and has released seven background papers.
The Seven Background Papers are: Agricultural System Review; Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Framework; Commercial Land Use Review; Employment Land Use Review; Natural Heritage Network Review; Residential Growth, Intensification and Housing Needs Strategy; and Urban Design, Built Form, Compatibility and Sustainable Development Criteria Review.
The Background Papers contain research, best practices and take into account the feedback that has been received from the community regarding the vision and priorities for the City of Vaughan for the next 30 years. The Background Papers are used to inform the next Phase of the project - recommendations for the development of Official Plan policy.
In August and September of 2022, the City visited and held pop-up events at local public spaces like the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Subway Station, retail stores and the City-led Concerts in the Park events, to engage residents in the project.
You can review the 7 Background Papers by visiting the Document Library on the right-hand side of the page. If you have any comments to be considered in future policy work, please submit them using the Ideas Tool, or by sending an e-mail to opmanager@vaughan.ca.
Staff Reports
Special Council Meeting - Statutory Initiation of the Official Plan Review - October 13, 2021