ThinKING Green: Sustainable Development Program

The Report to Council on "Incentives for the ThinKING Green Sustainable Development Standards Program" that was originally scheduled for Monday March 17, 2025, has been postponed to April 2025.

We appreciate your understanding and will provide an update when more details are available.

As part of the implementation of ThinKING Green: Sustainable Development Program, the Township is exploring opportunities for incentives. The Project Team is excited to announce that a Report to Council is being brought forward on Monday March 17, 2025 at 6:00pm.

The Staff Report will be available online at https://www.king.ca/meetings by Thursday March 13, 2025. For details on the Council meeting, including how to watch the presentation, submit comments and attend the meeting, visit: https://www.king.ca/meetings.

The ThinKING Green: Sustainable Development Program was endorsed by Council on May 13, 2024. ThinKING Green is a new green development standards program for the Township which expands upon and replaces the Sustainable King: Green Development Standards Program. ThinKING Green will come into effect for all Site Plan and Draft Plan of Subdivision Applications submitted on or after September 1, 2024.

To assist in the transition from Sustainable King to ThinKING Green, the Project Team has prepared the ThinKING Green Applicant Information Guide which provides a breakdown of the program requirements, purpose, submission process, and program scoring. The Applicant Information Guide can be referred to together with the Program Handbook when preparing to submit a development application.

For more information about the development application review process and to determine whether ThinKING Green is applicable to your development concept please refer to the Township's Green Development Standards webpage, use the Ask King Planning Inquiry Service, or visit the Development Applications webpage.

The Project Team is excited to announce that the ThinKING Green: Sustainable Development Program was endorsed by Council on May 13, 2024. The Project Team thanks everyone who has submitted comments and participated in the development of the Program.

ThinKING Green focuses on implementing the sustainability policies outlined in the Township's Our King Official Plan for new development applications and encourages all new development to protect and enhance both natural and urban environments while utilizing efficient, innovative and sustainable measures. ThinKING Green will come into effect for all Site Plan and Draft Plan of Subdivision Applications submitted on or after September 1, 2024.

The final Council endorsed ThinKING Green is available in the Document Library, and includes the modifications approved by Council at the May 13th meeting to Metrics 3.5a and 3.5b. For more information on the Program, the final Report to Council identifies changes to the Program and the proposed approach to implementation.

ThinKING Green, as well as the Township's previous sustainable development program, Sustainable King, are now available on the Township's website.

Please contain the Project Team at policyplanning@king.ca, or at 289-800-2656 if you have any questions.

The Project Team is pleased to announce that the final draft of the ThinKING Green: Sustainable Development Standards will be presented to Council for consideration of adoption on Monday May 13, 2024 at 6:00pm. We thank everyone for their feedback and comments. The final draft builds on the previous drafts of the Program, and takes into consideration the feedback that has been received throughout its preparation, including comments received since the presentation to Council in January 2024, and comments received since the March 2024 draft was published.

The Staff Report will be available online at: https://king.civicweb.net/Portal/ by Friday May 10, 2024. Should you wish to participate in the May 13 meeting you can submit written comments or register to speak to Council in person or virtually. Please review the process for public participation at: www.king.ca/meetings.

Any comments or questions can also be sent to the Project Team at policyplanning@king.ca. We look forward to receiving your ideas and input!

The Project Team is pleased to announce that the final draft of the ThinKING Green: Sustainable Development Standards is available in the Document Library on the SpeaKING Project Page.

The final draft of ThinKING Green is scheduled to return to Council in May 2024 for Council's consideration. The final draft builds on the previous drafts of the Program, and takes into consideration the feedback that has been received throughout its preparation. All input received prior to April 15, 2024 will be taken into consideration and responded to in a Comment Response Matrix that will be presented to Council with the final draft in May.

Any comments or questions can also be sent to the Project Team at policyplanning@king.ca. We look forward to receiving your ideas and input!

The Project Team thanks everyone who has provided input and comments on the first draft of the ThinKING Green: Sustainable Development Program.

An updated draft of ThinKING Green is available in the Document Library. The updated draft continues to focus on implementing the sustainability policies outlined in the Township's Our King Official Plan for new development applications, particularly Site Plan Development and Draft Plan of Subdivision Applications, and encourages all new development to protect and enhance both natural and urban environments while utilizing efficient, innovative and sustainable measures.

All input received prior to January 12, 2024 has been taken into consideration throughout the review and has resulted in a number of changes in the new draft. Key community priorities have been also determined based on the input and feedback received in response to the first draft, and have been summarized in the Consultation Summary, available in the Document Library.

The Project Team continues to seek input from the community regarding the draft Program. Any comments or questions can also be sent to the Project Team at policyplanning@king.ca. Please provide your comments, questions and feedback by March 1, 2024. We look forward to receiving your ideas and input!

The Project Team is happy to announce that the draft for the new ThinKING Green: Sustainable Development Program is now available in the Document Library on the SpeaKING Project Page!

ThinKING Green has been developed to expand upon and replace the Township's current Sustainable King: Green Development Standards Program. ThinKING Green builds upon the Sustainable King: Green Development Standards Program by introducing a new Principle Area to the Program, and a number of new sustainability metrics. The Program also provides a new method for evaluating the sustainable performance of new development through the assignment of a Sustainability Score.

ThinKING Green implements the sustainability policies outlined in the Township's Our King Official Plan and aligns with the goals of the Township's Corporate Strategic Plan. The Program is also proposed to apply to all Site Plan Development and Draft Plan of Subdivision Applications to ensure that all new development aligns with the Township's vision of a sustainable, healthy and resilient community.

ThinKING Green encourages all new development to protect and enhance the natural environment while utilizing efficient, innovative and sustainable measures. The sustainability metrics propose to reduce the environmental and carbon footprint of developments by incorporating alternative energy sources, innovative landscaping, and green technologies. The metrics also promote the identification, protection, enhancement, and restoration of the natural environment. New metrics have also been included to support the development of healthy communities through encouraging mixed-use development and a range of housing types in proximity to services and amenities.

All Site Plan Development Applications submitted under Site Plan Control By-law 2022-052, as amended (or its successor), and all Draft Plan of Subdivision Applications that do not require a subsequent Site Plan Development Application are proposed to be required to address the requirements of ThinKING Green as part of a Complete Application through the submission of the ThinKING Green Program Table (Appendix A).

The Project Team appreciates all feedback on the new Program! If you have any questions, comments or thoughts please contact Aloma Dreher, Senior Policy Planner at adreher@king.ca, or at 905-833-5321, ext. 1004 by July 31, 2023. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

The Project Team are happy to announce that the draft for the first expansion to the Sustainable King: Green Development Standards Program is now available in the Document Library on the SpeaKING project page! The Sustainable King: Green Development Standards Program – Single Family Dwellings has been developed to expand upon the sustainability policies outlined in the Township’s Our King Official Plan and Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (Sustainable King), and to build upon the Program as released in 2020. This Program expansion is proposed to apply to Site Plan applications for single family dwellings throughout the Township to ensure that all new development aligns with the vision of sustainability for the community.

The Sustainable King: Green Development Standards Program – Single Family Dwellings encourages new dwellings and residential development to protect and enhance the natural environment while utilizing efficient, innovative and sustainable measures. The development metrics propose to reduce the environmental and carbon footprint of developments by incorporating alternative energy sources, innovative landscaping, and green technologies. The metrics also encourage the identification, protection, enhancement, and restoration of the natural environment.

All Site Plan Applications for single family dwellings submitted to the Township under the Planning Act in accordance with Site Plan Control By-law 2022-054, as amended (or its successor), are proposed to be required to address the metrics of the Program as part of a Complete Application through the submission of the Sustainable King: Green Development Standards Program Table (Appendix A).

The Project Team appreciates all feedback on the proposed Program Expansion! If you have any questions, comments or thoughts please contact Aloma Dreher, Senior Policy Planner at adreher@king.ca, or at 905-833-5321, ext. 1004 by November 14, 2022. We look forward to hearing from you soon!