• Development Approval Process
• Operational Areas
• Major Planning & Urban Design Studies
• Parks Planning & Development
• Statistics:
  Population | Employment | Housing
• Development District Information
• Design Excellence Awards
• Planning for Places of Worship 

Our Mission

We create civic pride through excellence in community planning and development. We plan for the future, and guide the delivery of the vision every day.

The Planning and Urban Design Department activities relate to long range strategic planning and current development control; formulation of plans, policies, regulations and guidelines on land use, development, urban design and growth management; processing and evaluation of development applications; data collection, analysis, research and monitoring on land use, planning policy and growth related matters; digital mapping related functions; community outreach, liaison and information.

Operational Areas

Development District Teams:

• Project co-ordination of multidisciplinary teams and commenting agencies
• District and Community Planning
• District Studies, Secondary Plans and Tertiary Plans
• Development Control (Official Plan and Zoning Amendments, Subdivisions and Condominiums, Part Lot Control, Land Severance, Minor Variances, Site Plan Control)
• Development Conditions and Agreements
• Ontario Municipal Board Hearings on development matters
• Long range strategic planning
• Environmental planning, protection and enhancement
• Official Plan and Secondary Plans
• Community meetings and Public Consultation on development files
• Information and advice re: development inquiries

Policy and Research:

• Long range strategic planning
• Environmental planning, protection and enhancement
• Official Plan and Secondary Plans
• Urban boundary and growth management
• Studies and recommendations on planning policy issues
• Review and recommendations in regard to Senior Government policies and programs, and those of adjacent municipalities
• Growth projections and monitoring
• Research and analysis 
• Ontario Municipal Board Hearings on policy matters
• Community meetings and Public Consultation on policy projects
• Participation on inter-government/inter-agency bodies

Special Projects:

• Zoning By-law review and consolidation
• District and issue specific policies and regulations
• Staff training and professional development
• Special Projects as assigned

Urban Design:

• Site plan and subdivision application review
• Secondary and Community Design Plan review
• Urban design comments for site plan and subdivision agreements
• Advise on urban design, built form, architectural control and landscape architectural matters
• Approval of park plans and designs, construction, acceptance and assumption Parks Planning & Development
• Inspection and acceptance of tree planting and landscaping for boulevards, storm ponds, valley lands, and landscape buffers
  (see Trees for Tomorrow Streetscape Manual ( 3.84MB/65p) for more information) 
• Letter of credit administration

Heritage Conservation:

• Register of Property of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
• Heritage District Plans
• Development Control in Heritage Districts
• Heritage Permits
• Heritage Markham Committee support
• Markham Heritage Estates subdivision
• Heritage Designation and Plaquing Program
• Heritage Financial Assistance Programs 
• Heritage Property Research
• Newsletters, community outreach and awards 

Geomatics Group:

• CADD - Computer Assisted Drafting and Design
• Digital Mapping/Graphics Services
• Zoning and report maps
• Official Plan Schedules
• Airphoto analysis and orthographic imaging
• Street Names and Addressing
• GIS - Geographical Information Systems analysis, mapping and application development
• Property information/database creation and management