MHBC is currently retained…

MHBC is currently retained by the United Church of Canada in relation to the properties located 5050 Hillside Drive, Beamsville, also known as the Albright Centre (the “Subject Lands”). As shown on the attached Location Map, the Subject Lands are senior’s retirement community of approximately 17 hectares in size and is bounded by Mountain Street to the west, Hillside Drive to the North, Hixon Street to the east and the Niagara Escarpment to the south. The Subject Lands contain a 232 bed long-term care home, a 30 unit apartment building providing affordable senior’s accommodation and 41 individual homes. The site is fully urbanized and serviced by municipal roads, water and wastewater infrastructure.

We have reviewed the Draft Agricultural Land Base Map and the detailed mapping available through the Draft Agricultural System Portal and note that the Subject lands have been identified as:

1) Specialty Crop Area on the Draft Agricultural Land Base Map;

2) Unclassified, Class 2, Class 3 and Class 4 Soils on Layer 4.1 - Land Compatibility, Canada Lands Inventory (OMAFRA Soil Survey Complex) of the Draft Agricultural System Portal;

3) Areas currently designated Agricultural (approved upper and single tier municipal plans, 2015) on Layer 6.0 of the Draft Agricultural System Portal;

4) Specialty Crop Areas (Niagara Tender Fruit and Grape Lands and Holland Marsh) on Layer 6.1.1 of the Draft Agricultural System Portal; and,

5) Prime Agricultural Areas designated in municipal official Plans and / or identified by OMAFRA on Layer 6.1.2 of the Draft Agricultural System Portal.

In July 2005, the Region of Niagara approved Town of Lincoln Official Plan Amendment No. 31 (a comprehensive Official Plan update) which included a re-designation of the Subject Lands from Protection Area to Urban Area. The Region supported the proposed change subject to the most southerly portion of the lands being excluded from the re-designation. However, since the Subject Lands are designated Escarpment Protection Area within the Niagara Escarpment Plan (NEP) Area, the decision with respect to the Subject Lands was deferred until such time that they are re-designated to Urban Area in the NEP.

Through the Co-ordinated Land Use Planning Review, the Niagara Escarpment Commission made recommendations to the Province that a 14.6 hectare portion of the Subject Lands be re-designated from Escarpment Protection Area to Urban Area in the NEP. The Minister Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) subsequently approved this request and these lands are now recognized as Urban Area in the 2017 NEP, effective June 1, 2017. Now that Ministry approval has been secured, development and redevelopment on the site can occur in accordance with the NEP Urban Area policies.

Given the extent of urbanization that has existed on site since the 1950s, and the current Urban Area designation there is no potential for agricultural uses on the site. In fact, such uses would be in conflict with the Urban Area policies.

The proposed mapping should be amended (amend the Draft Agricultural Land Base map and the Draft Agricultural System Portal) to remove the above noted designations from the Subject Lands and more accurately reflect the existing urban conditions, consistent with the Urban Area policies in the NEP.

We would like to be notified of all future meetings and commenting opportunities with respect to any changes to the OMAFRA’s draft Agricultural System or other policies that may impact the development potential of the Subject Lands. We look forward to continuing to with the OMAFRA and will provide additional comments through the review process, as required.

[Original Comment ID: 211028]