I have been asked to provide…

I have been asked to provide comments on behalf of the St. Joseph Island Planning Board as follows. While the Board concurs with the general intent of the proposed policies as they relate to large and fast growing urban centres in relation to increasing the affordable housing supply, they are somewhat concerned and confused by some of the proposed policies as they may relate to small northern and rural communities where growth and housing supply is not an issue. Perhaps this is in part due to a need for more and clearer definitions. For example, what is meant by the term "rural settlement area" as used in section 2.5.2? How does a rural settlement area differ from a defined settlement area in a rural community, or is there any difference other than that one is defined and the other may not be? The use of terms such as that and others need clarification or more precise definitions.

It is and has always been a primary goal of our Official Plan to protect and enhance the natural heritage features and rural character of our Island while providing for limited residential and economic development. We would not want to lose site of those goals in response to development pressures in other more densely populated areas of the province.