Incorporating consideration of health impacts into land use development approval processes: Development of a Health Background Study Framework.

Objectives: This project involved development of a Health Background Study (HBS) Framework to support consideration of health impacts within municipalities' approval process for land use development.

Participants: Peel Public Health and Toronto Public Health led the project with the participation of planners, urban designers, engineers, public health staff and development industry representatives.

Setting: Historical growth in the Region of Peel and suburban Toronto has resulted in extensive low-density development, creating car-dependent communities with disconnected streets and segregated land uses.