Halton Hills begins a growth plan for downtown Acton and its GO station area

What the study covers

On August 19 the Town of Halton Hills announced it is starting the Acton Downtown/Major Transit Station Area Secondary Plan. The study area covers about 52.3 hectares (129 acres) along Mill Street East and West, which is Highway 7, between Eastern Avenue and Park Avenue and south of Bower Street. It takes in the historic downtown and the area around Acton GO Station.

The area was identified as the Acton GO Major Transit Station Area through Halton Region's Official Plan Amendment 48 in 2021. The Regional Official Plan, which the Town notes is now a local plan, calls for the station area to be planned to a density target, measured in people and jobs per hectare, that this project will set. The Town says long-term planning for the area should focus on transit, with room for more homes and jobs.

What the plan will do

• Set an appropriate density target for the station area, under the Provincial Planning Statement.
• Review existing land use designations and create new ones where needed to meet provincial rules for major transit station areas.
• Study transportation and servicing needs for current and future residents, with related transportation and servicing master plans.
• Study cultural heritage and urban design to support a preferred land use plan, with the stated aim of preserving the area's historic character.

The Town says public information sessions will be held throughout the study, with the first expected in fall 2026; no date had been posted by October 8. Residents can join the notification list or ask questions by calling the Town at 905-873-2600, ext. 2900, and follow the study on the Let's Talk Halton Hills project page.

Separately, a June 25 staff report lists more than 20 Mill Street East properties in Acton among the listed heritage properties that come off the Town's Heritage Register on January 1, 2027, under provincial rules. The report does not say which of them fall inside the secondary plan study area.

At the station now: parking lot repaving

Metrolinx is repaving the Acton GO Station parking lot in phases as part of its network-wide State of Good Repair program. Metrolinx scheduled the work from August 24 until October 2026, Monday to Friday and some Saturdays, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., and says closure dates may change. The notice gives no exact end date.

• Parking spots for the Acton Medical & Urgent Care Clinic will be moved during some phases, with signs showing the temporary spots.
• Metrolinx points riders to extra parking at Georgetown GO, which it describes as about a 20-minute drive away.
• Metrolinx expects no impact on pedestrians, drivers or transit service, but warns of some noise, vibration and dust.