WHEREAS many municipalities have significant development and densification along highway corridors, and Section 52 of the Transportation Act establishes that municipal zoning bylaws do not apply to land and improvements within 800 metres of a highway controlled area, unless approved in writing by the Minister or his designate; AND WHEREAS the definition of a controlled area, being a radius of 800 metres from an intersection of a controlled access highway with any other highway, land and improvements, has become onerous for local government and possibly provincial staff as well: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be requested to undertake amendments to the definition of controlled area within the meaning of Section 52 of the Transportation Act that would reduce the effective distance from 800 metres to 500 metres.
Ministry of Transportation Infrastructure The 800 metre distance is not arbitrary; it is a distance which is commonly used by highway authorities as a minimum spacing guideline to provide efficient and safe traffic progression between traffic signals. This distance requirement is used throughout North America. As the operator of the highway, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is interested in land use influencing traffic activity within 800 metres of an access to a controlled access highway, both along the controlled access highway and on feeder routes connected to the access point on the highway. A reduction to 500 metres would introduce more risk to highway system performance.