Growth issues addressed at mayor's breakfast
By Bill Rea

John Waller

The anticipated growth coming to York and King is going to require some innovative planning.

That was one of the messages John Waller, York Region's director of longrange and strategic planning had for people attending Mayor Margaret Black's recent networking and presentation breakfast.

With people moving in, there is going to have to be work for many of them.

Waller cited findings from the Region's 2006 employment survey, commenting that York has been able to partner with its local municipalities to survey businesses and determine which sectors are going where. There are few municipalities that have information in such detail, he said.

He added these findings are currently being updated, with 12 summer students working in the field to survey businesses.

The current data states there were 951,000 people living in York last year and some 460,000 jobs. Waller added that since 1998, employment growth has been keeping close pace with the population increase. The number of jobs has been going up by about 4.9 per cent annually, while the number of people has been increasing by 5.2 per cent. About 74 per cent of the jobs in York are service oriented, while manufacturing accounted for almost 20 per cent. He added there's been strong growth in a number of sectors, including business services, retail, public administration and health care.

Focusing on King, the survey found the were some 5,900 jobs and 414 businesses operating in the township. He also pointed out some of the jobs, such as those involving farm help, might have been missed. Over the years, there's been about six per cent employment growth in King, putting it ahead of the rest of the region.

A little more than 70 per cent of the jobs in King involved producing services, and roughly half of those were related to golf. Waller pointed out there are a number of clubs in the township employing more than 100 people. He added some 21 per cent of the jobs in King are part-time, indicating they are seasonal.

Waller also said there's been growth in just about all the job sectors in King, with a drop in health care and a minor reduction in retail trade.

Most of the businesses in King (more than 85 per cent) are considered small, meaning they employ less than 20 people, Waller said. He added that shows entrepreneurial spirit, as well as the potential for these small operations to grow.

Waller also addressed other growth management issues, and how the Region is proposing to address them.

It's been necessary to update planning strategies over the last couple of years, because of such provincial initiatives as the Oak Ridges Moraine legislation, the Greenbelt, Places to Grow document, etc.

About 31 per cent of York is on the moraine, Waller said, and that, combined with Greenbelt, account for some 69 per cent of the land in York. He added there's very little of King that is not covered by these two plans, and that means almost all of the township is subject to strict conditions on what can be developed.

The Places to Grow document contains new sets of population projections for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The result, Waller said, will be the GTA and Hamilton forming the fourth largest urban area in North America. The population is expected to grow by 2.8 million to 8.6 million by 2031 and there will be 1.4 million new jobs, creating a total of 4.3 million. As well, he said 1.26 million new homes will be required.

In York, the projections call for a 60 per cent population increase, to 1.505 million in 2031, 75 per cent more jobs to 800,000 and and 85 per more housing units, to a total of 516,000.

"It kind of boggles the mind a little bit," Waller remarked, adding this will be a growing and aging population, meaning it will represent different demands. That will spell challenges, as planners have to figure out how to manage this growth and protect the countryside features as well.

There are many things that are being done right in York and King, but Waller stressed there is still much to do.

Attention will have to be paid to such things as the magnitude and location of growth, provision of infrastructure to keep pace with it, assessing where intensification is needed and making sure there's additional and ongoing consultation.