April 2011 Draft Metropolitan Land Use and Development Plan GREATER MONTREAL An Attractive, Competitive and Sustainable SUMMARY Message from the Chair I am pleased to introduce this draft of the Metropolitan Land Use and Development Plan (PMAD), which was adopted by the Council of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM) on April 28, 2011. The main purpose of the draft Plan, which presents the CMM s vision on land use and development for Greater Montréal, is to improve residents quality of life; it is also intended to enhance the area s attractiveness and competitiveness. Three major priorities have been identified with a view to reaching these objectives. The first deals with land use. One of the draft Plan s recommendations is to consolidate the urban growth to be generated by the 320,000 households that will be added by 2031. New neighbourhoods, to be built with access to mass transit, could accommodate at least 40% of these new households. These neighbourhoods will be better designed and more environmentally friendly, and reduce dependency on automobiles while offering residents services located close to home. The second concerns mass transit. The draft Plan s vision here is clear: an investment of more than $23 billion is required to expand the role played by mass transit and reduce automobile traffic. If this investment actually comes to pass, it will help extend the metro network, strengthen the commuter train system and launch bus rapid transit service all of which will help make Greater Montréal a model for sustainable transportation. The third aims at protecting and enhancing Greater Montréal s numerous recreational and tourism assets. The Monteregian Hills, the St. Lawrence and woodland areas are all iconic sites that are greatly appreciated by residents and visitors alike, but which deserve to be more accessible. People would like to take greater advantage of them, and new infrastructure for cycling and walking will make that possible. I invite all residents of Greater Montréal to review this draft Plan and take part in the consultations scheduled for the fall of 2011. This advisory process will be an excellent opportunity to improve this draft Plan and ultimately adopt Greater Montréal s first Metropolitan Land Use and Development Plan by December 31, 2011. Gérald Tremblay Chair
April 2011 Draft Metropolitan Land Use and Development Plan GREATER MONTREAL An Attractive, Competitive and Sustainable SUMMARY Message from the Chair I am pleased to introduce this draft of the Metropolitan Land Use and Development Plan (PMAD), which was adopted by the Council of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM) on April 28, 2011. The main purpose of the draft Plan, which presents the CMM s vision on land use and development for Greater Montréal, is to improve residents quality of life; it is also intended to enhance the area s attractiveness and competitiveness. Three major priorities have been identified with a view to reaching these objectives. The first deals with land use. One of the draft Plan s recommendations is to consolidate the urban growth to be generated by the 320,000 households that will be added by 2031. New neighbourhoods, to be built with access to mass transit, could accommodate at least 40% of these new households. These neighbourhoods will be better designed and more environmentally friendly, and reduce dependency on automobiles while offering residents services located close to home. The second concerns mass transit. The draft Plan s vision here is clear: an investment of more than $23 billion is required to expand the role played by mass transit and reduce automobile traffic. If this investment actually comes to pass, it will help extend the metro network, strengthen the commuter train system and launch bus rapid transit service all of which will help make Greater Montréal a model for sustainable transportation. The third aims at protecting and enhancing Greater Montréal s numerous recreational and tourism assets. The Monteregian Hills, the St. Lawrence and woodland areas are all iconic sites that are greatly appreciated by residents and visitors alike, but which deserve to be more accessible. People would like to take greater advantage of them, and new infrastructure for cycling and walking will make that possible. I invite all residents of Greater Montréal to review this draft Plan and take part in the consultations scheduled for the fall of 2011. This advisory process will be an excellent opportunity to improve this draft Plan and ultimately adopt Greater Montréal s first Metropolitan Land Use and Development Plan by December 31, 2011. Gérald Tremblay Chair
A protected, accessible environment Lower GHG emissions In September 2003, the CMM Council made its view of Greater Montréal s future very clear by adopting Vision 2025. Taking the area s assets into consideration, the PMAD must now implement that vision. Reduced automobile use Successful shift to mass transit Diversified, consolidated, densified and dynamic urban areas Charting Our International Future: Building a Competitive, Attractive, Interdependent and Responsible Community Land use planning: A jurisdiction central to the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal s mission The Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal is mandated to adopt a Metropolitan Land Use and Development Plan (PMAD) for Greater Montréal. The purpose of this plan is to ensure the competitiveness and attractiveness of the Greater Montréal area from a sustainable-development viewpoint. Greater Montréal covers an area of approximately 4,360 km2, where more than 3.7 million people live, work, study and play; close to 58% of this area consists of farmland.
Public consultations on the draft plan The Metropolitan Land Use and Development Plan is aimed at determining the type of development favoured by Greater Montréal residents. By 2031, the area s population will have grown by more than 530,000 residents and new jobs will also be created. Where will these people and jobs be located? How will area residents travel from place to place? What infrastructure will be required to accommodate this growth? How will we ensure that our natural environment is protected and enhanced? The draft Plan defines a series of policy directions, objectives and criteria to answer these questions. At its meeting of April 28, 2011, the CMM Council adopted a draft Plan that will be submitted for public consultations in the fall of 2011. The final version of the Plan, which will incorporate certain changes made as a result of that process and input from the Quebec government and the regional county municipalities (RCMs), is expected to be ratified in December 2011. Three land use and development challenges The draft Plan identifies three land use and development challenges for Greater Montréal that will have to be met by 2031. CHALLENGE 1: LAND USE Greater Montréal must determine the preferred type of urbanization to accommodate the projected growth of some 530,000 people (or 320,000 new households) by 2031, as well as the 150,000 jobs that will be created, keeping in mind that the space and financial resources available are limited and that a metropolitan boundary will have to be established. CHALLENGE 2: TRANSPORTATION Greater Montréal must optimize and develop existing and planned land-transportation networks in order to promote urban consolidation and sustain the growing mobility of goods and people. CHALLENGE 3: ENVIRONMENT Greater Montréal must protect and enhance its natural and built assets (waterways, landscapes, woodland areas and heritage complexes) to foster the area s attractiveness.
In September 2003, the CMM Council made its view of Greater Montréal s future very clear by adopting Vision 2025. Taking the area s assets into consideration, the PMAD must now implement that vision. A protected, accessible environment Lower GHG emissions Reduced automobile use Successful shift to mass transit Diversified, consolidated, densified and dynamic urban areas Charting Our International Future: Building a Competitive, Attractive, Interdependent and Responsible Community Land use planning: A jurisdiction central to the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal s mission The Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal is mandated to adopt a Metropolitan Land Use and Development Plan (PMAD) for Greater Montréal. The purpose of this plan is to ensure the competitiveness and attractiveness of the Greater Montréal area from a sustainable-development viewpoint. Greater Montréal covers an area of approximately 4,360 km2, where more than 3.7 million people live, work, study and play; close to 58% of this area consists of farmland.
The sustainable development of Greater Montréal: policy directions, objectives and criteria
Policy direction 1 Land Use A Greater Montréal with sustainable living environments The draft Plan recommends locating 40% of planned urbanization within a one-kilometre radius around metro, commuter-train, light-rail transit (LRT) and bus rapid transit (BRT) stations, with a view to developing transit-oriented development (TOD) neighbourhoods. It also advocates the densification of the built environment on land that is vacant or slated for redevelopment outside such TOD zones. Objective 1.1 Direct growth toward structural mass-transit network access points Other objectives deal with establishing a metropolitan boundary, identifying the locations of existing and planned metropolitan facilities, optimizing the occupancy of farmland, and taking into account the area s geomorphological and anthropogenic constraints. Criteria 1.1.1 Location of TOD zones near structural mass-transit network access points, with a view to establishing at least 40% of future households in or near such zones 1.1.2 Minimum density thresholds (households/ha) applicable to TOD zones 1.1.3 Development of TOD zones 1.2 Optimize urban development outside of TOD zones 1.2.1 Definition of minimum density thresholds outside of TOD zones with a view to consolidating residential spaces 1.2.2 Definition of areas reserved for optimum urbanization 1.2.3 Consolidation of economic hubs 1.3 Promote optimal occupancy by increasing surface area of cultivated land 1.4 Identify existing facilities of metropolitan importance and determine the location of planned facilities 1.3.1 Increase of 6% in surface area of cultivated land 1.4.1 Identification of healthcare, education, sports, cultural and tourism facilities 1.4.2 Location of facilities near mass-transit access points, within the established urban growth boundary and adjacent to existing urbanized sectors, taking account of anthropogenic and biophysical constraints 1.5.1 Flooding risks common to various RCMs 1.5.2 Landslide risks common to two or more RCMs 1.5 Identify the major constraints common to two or more RCMs 1.5.3 Anthropogenic risks common to two or more RCMs 1.5.4 Risks related to ambient-air quality and related health effects 1.5.5 Risks associated with weather-related events common to two or more RCMs 1.6 Set boundary for urbanization in keeping with sustainable development principles 1.6.1 2031 Metropolitan boundary in keeping with minimum residential density thresholds and spaces reserved for both TOD and non TOD urbanization
Policy direction 2 Transportation A Greater Montréal with efficient, structural transportation networks and facilities The draft Plan advocates developing the metropolitan mass-transit network so as to increase the modal share of public transit from the current figure of 25% to 30% during the morning rush hour. The expansion of this network, which requires an investment of at least $23 billion, is essential to increasing sustainable mobility and reducing greenhouse gases, a large proportion of which are emitted by road vehicles. The draft Plan also suggests that certain stretches of the road network be completed in order to provide service to the main metropolitan employment hubs, as well as the mobility of goods. Objective Criteria 2.1 Identify a mass-transit network in order to shape urban development 2.1.1 Identification of a structural metropolitan mass-transit network 2.2 Modernize and develop the metropolitan mass-transit network 2.2.1 By 2021, an increase to 30% in the modal share of mass-transit trips during morning rush hour travel 2.3 Optimize and complete the road network to ensure the efficient movement of people and goods 2.3.1 Identification of the metropolitan road network 2.3.2 Reduction in waiting times and delays caused by congestion 2.3.3 Location of logistical hubs
Policy direction 3 Environment A Greater Montréal with a protected, enhanced environment According to the draft Plan, the 31 woodland areas of metropolitan importance should be protected and enhanced. The draft Plan also suggests a number of measures aimed at protecting riverbanks, waterways, wetlands, landscapes and built heritage of metropolitan importance. To ensure all these facets are enhanced, the draft Plan suggests establishing a metropolitan recreational and tourism network that would be structured around a green belt, thereby allowing residents and visitors to benefit fully from these recreational and leisure areas. Objective Criteria 3.1 Maintain the forest cover in metropolitan woodland areas 3.1.1 Identification of the 31 metropolitan woodland areas 3.2 Protect riverbanks, waterways and wetlands 3.1.2 Protection of the 31 metropolitan woodland areas 3.2.1 Identification and protection of riverbanks, shoreline and flood plains 3.2.2 Identification and conservation of wetlands 3.3 Protect landscapes of metropolitan importance 3.3.1 Identification of landscapes of metropolitan importance 3.4 Protect built heritage of metropolitan importance 3.4.1 Identification of built heritage of metropolitan importance 3.5 Enhance landscapes and the natural and built environments in a comprehensive, integrated manner, for recreational and tourism purposes 3.3.2 Protection of landscapes of metropolitan importance 3.4.2 Protection of built heritage of metropolitan importance 3.5.1 Identification of the components of an integrated concept for enhancing landscapes and the natural and built environments, for recreational and tourism purposes 3.5.2 Development of the components of an integrated concept for enhancing landscapes and the natural and built environments, for recreational and tourism purposes
How will the Plan be implemented? The institutional land use and development framework for Greater Montréal comprises four levels: the province (Québec government), the CMM, the region (agglomerations, RCMs and city-rcms) and the municipalities (local level). If the administrative regions are also taken into account, a fifth level is included. Each of these levels has its own planning tools. Furthermore, Quebec law provides for mechanisms for ensuring the compliance and standardization of such tools. The CMM s PMAD must therefore comply with government policy and guidelines; the planning tools of the RCMs and municipalities will also have to comply with the Plan. Finally, as stipulated by law, a mechanism should ensure that the five-year development plans of the regional assemblies of elected officials (CRÉs) are harmonized with the PMAD. Public consultation sessions to improve the draft Plan Over the next few months, public consultation sessions will enable all interested groups and individuals to submit their comments on the draft plan. The RCMs of the CMM, as well as those in the surrounding areas, will also be able to submit their opinions in the 120 days following the adoption of the draft Plan. The Quebec government will have180 days in which to submit its opinion to the CMM. For more information The complete draft Plan, the Portrait of Greater Montréal, various preparatory studies conducted over the past few years, and information on public consultations can be viewed online at the following address: www.pmad.ca. 1002 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 2400 Montréal, Québec H3A 3L6 Tel.: 514-350-2550 Fax: 514-350-2599 www.cmm.qc.ca info@cmm.qc.ca