The Importance of Land Use Compatibility Assessments

Land Use Compatibility Assessments (LUCA) are governed by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) D-Series Guidelines:

• D-1 Land Use and Compatibility
• D-2 Compatibility between Sewage Treatment and Sensitive Land Use
• D-3 Environmental Considerations for Gas or Oil Pipelines and Facilities
• D-4 Land Use On or Near Landfills and Dumps
• D-5 Planning for Sewage and Water Services
• D-6 Compatibility between Industrial Facilities

The guidelines most often used are D-1 Land Use and Compatibility and D-6 Compatibility between Industrial Facilities where compatibility studies between employment areas (including industrial) and sensitive land uses are required.

Land Use Compatibility Assessments are typically required by municipalities or townships when a developer or landowner desires to change its existing land use from an intense to a more sensitive use or vise versa through an Official Plan Amendment (OPA) and/or Zoning By-Law Amendment (ZBA) to name a few. The assessment looks at the adverse effects that a land use may have on one another with respect to dust, odour, noise, vibration, and sometimes light.

As more and more residential developments are being built closer to and around industrial and commercial areas, land use compatibility assessment is a crucial tool to determine whether or not the land use change can co-exist with other land uses in close proximity, as well as the potential risks and impacts associated with the change.

Depending on the municipality, an Air Quality Study may be requested instead of a LUCA. An Air Quality Study includes assessing compatibility between land uses, but it also includes assessing the ambient air quality using publicly available data.

How Can We Help?

SONAIR has worked with countless urban planners, developers, and landowners on their planning applications. Whether a Land Use Compatibility / Mitigation Study or an Air Quality Study is required as part of your planning application submission, our experienced professionals will be able to assist you with your studies and provide you with the necessary recommendations. Send us an email today to request for a quote or a free consultation.