Pearson Eco-Business Zone Policy Harmonization Feasibility Study

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority will study and make recommendations for a harmonized land-use policy framework for the Pearson Eco-Business Zone. This business zone crosses four municipal boundaries, including the Region of Peel, the City of Brampton, the City of Mississauga and the City of Toronto. With over 12,500 businesses and 350,000 people working in the zone, it is Canada's largest employment area, consuming more than 6% of Ontario's entire annual electricity production. The focus of this feasibility study is to work towards policy harmonization among the four Official Plans (OP) and three Zoning Bylaws (ZBL) that currently regulate the Pearson Eco-Business Zone, following from the GTAA’s Partners in Project Green Strategy. Although the OPs share commons goals such as energy and water conservation, the three ZBLs have fewer common elements. The research team will review case studies of eco-industrial parks, study existing municipal policies and look at land-use barriers and opportunities. The study will identify best practices for land-use policies that promote green business, energy efficiency and renewable energy. The researchers will meet with the municipalities and private-sector stakeholders to identify policy tools are needed to support the desired environmental goals. The team will develop a policy toolkit to help policy makers, municipal staff, developers and private industry identify and put in place green business policies and strategies. The feasibility study is expected to result in policies that support Partners in Project Green Strategy goals of: 1) reducing energy consumption for building-related activities by 20 per cent by 2015; 2) sourcing 10 per cent of all energy use from renewable sources; 3) reducing GHG emissions by 6 per cent below 1990 levels by 2015 and 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020; and 4) increasing riparian vegetation by 75% by 2015.

(Project description from original funding application)