Not many places in Canada have grown like Brooklin, a quiet village north of Whitby that has watched its population soar from just 1,600 in 1994 to around 30,000 today.
As the community is projected to exceed 50,000 residents by 2044, balancing this rapid growth with Brooklin’s small-town feel has been tough for the Town of Whitby. They’re looking to broaden urban boundaries to create more housing while keeping commercial and mixed-use zones intact.
The last update to the Brooklin Community Secondary Plan was in 2018. Now, with new provincial rules that don’t require upper tier (Durham Region) approval for most land-use decisions, the town held several open houses in 2024 and 2025 to check how residents felt about expansion.
The feedback showed that locals weren’t interested in changing commercial or employment lands into residential areas, making expansion the most viable option for the town.
A proposal to extend Brooklin’s urban boundaries – mainly toward the northwest – will be discussed at Monday’s council meeting. This expansion is generally located south of Brawley Road, east of Lake Ridge Road, and north of Conlin Road, with a narrow section west near Oshawa’s border.
The amendment includes:
An updated Secondary Plan for both existing and expanded Brooklin community New and updated land use designations and policies for Brooklin Land designated for future jobs and business opportunities A variety of housing types at different price points Commercial spaces and community services for new and existing neighborhoods Protection for natural heritage systems and hazards A transportation network meeting future needs of both Brooklin and Whitby Plans for a future health precinct including potential hospital land Policies promoting transit-friendly and walkable communities
The staff report stated that Brooklin will grow “in a manner that maintains the small-town community feel while evolving into a complete community.” The plan aims to preserve downtown’s unique heritage while enhancing Baldwin Street’s “vibrancy and pedestrian comfort.”
More retail and mixed-use development south of Winchester Road will help establish one downtown area with an extension of ‘main street’ character along a pedestrian promenade south of Winchester Road.
“While the community will grow in size and population, the growth will take place in a way that builds on and enhances the existing strengths of the community.”
The Town Whitby anticipates growing from its current population of 160,000 to about 244,000 by 2044.
The proposed expanded areas of Brooklin shaded in red
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