​November 8th is World Town Planning Day (#wtpd2023) Everyday, we celebrate and recognize urban planners who help promote, preserve and create livable communities like Newmarket. Planning and the work of planners is extremely important because urban planning affects many aspects of everyday life around the world and in Newmarket!

It helps determine where people live, where they shop, where they work, where they play, where they go to school, how they get around the Town, and how residents and visitors experience the Town every day. Great planning leads to housing and employment options for everyone and is what makes Newmarket a great place to live, work and play. 

Planners work on all things related to great planning such as policy creation for growth and development, land uses and zoning, heritage conservation, tree protection, parkland dedication and more! 

Here are some fun planning-related facts for Newmarket:

• Newmarket is working on updating its official plan – a policy document that will guide how land in Newmarket should be used. It will describe here new housing, institutional uses, offices, and shops will be located; what and where services like roads, parks, trails, and schools will be needed; and what and where natural features need to be protected and/or enhanced. You can follow along the process and get involved by visiting heynewmarket.ca/newmarketop
• Newmarket is also conducting a study for the South of Davis Area (SODA). This project will evaluate the area of Main St. from Simcoe St. to Millard Ave., between Niagara St and the railway line. When completed, this policy will set out the vision for this area's redevelopment. Learn more and get involved at heynewmarket.ca/soda
• Newmarket has 47 properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act! One of the jobs of a planner is to protect the built character of these buildings while in some cases adapting them for other uses. 
• Newmarket has a Heritage Conservation District, along Main Street from just north of Millard to Water, that that includes 72 properties. Changes to buildings in this area require a Heritage Permit and there is a grant to help property owners upgrade their building facades with appropriate materials and design.
• Newmarket's "Urban Centres", located along Yonge Street and Davis Drive, is forecasted to grow into a vibrant community of 33,000 residents and 32,000 jobs in the next few decades. These areas are pre-zoned, and ready to build! Learn more.
• Want to know what developments are occurring in Town? Check out our an interactive map that shows all the planning applications currently under review in Newmarket. You can click on the property on each map to learn more about the application and its progress

Learn more about planning in Newmarket and see how we are continuing to build a community that is well beyond the ordinary.