WHEREAS on April 6, 2023,…

WHEREAS on April 6, 2023, the Province of Ontario released for comment the proposed 2023 Provincial Planning Statement and Bill 97, Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023;

AND WHEREAS The Township of The Archipelago is a rural municipality, located within a UNESCO designated biosphere – the Georgian Bay Biosphere/Mindoo Gamii;

AND WHEREAS Council for the Township of The Archipelago has reviewed the proposed changes and has raised concerns with respect to the following proposed policies:

‘2.6 Rural Lands in Municipalities’ – which permits lot creation and multi-lot residential development on rural lands and removes policies requiring development to being locally appropriate or compatible with rural landscape.
‘2.3 Settlement Areas and Settlement Area Boundary Expansion’ – which permits new settlement areas and boundary expansions, without the need for a comprehensive review to support changes.
‘4.1 Natural Heritage’ – proposed natural heritage policies remain under review and cannot be considered in context with the other changes.

AND WHEREAS Council for the Township of The Archipelago supports the changes to the Planning Act that re-establishes the use Site Plan Control for development that is located within 120 metres of a shoreline and 300 metres of a railway line;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council for the Township of The Archipelago direct staff to submit comments to the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) in response to the proposed Provincial Planning Statement 2023 and Bill 97, supporting the Township of The Archipelago’s strategic priorities and Official Plan policies to protect and preserve the natural environment and rural waterfront recreational character within the Township of The Archipelago.