If MMAH's decision must…

If MMAH's decision must conform to "Room to Grow" then they should stick to the plan. It's VERY possible that Haldimand has not put in enough effort in both their current amendment proposals and in the last number of years - effort that would have made sure that they could meet intensification targets and grow upwards instead of outwards.

Do not set any precedents or provide too much leeway. The municipality should be (and should have been) thinking ahead, not just taking as much money as possible from developers and taxpayers. Planning was and is important and should not be ignored.

I'll admit I don't know all the details about Haldimand's case. However, I have noticed a trend of past and current planning efforts being ignored across many municipalities in Ontario over the last number of years, everywhere, and this needs to stop.

What I do know is that this area of the province has some of the best agricultural land in North America (protected in the PPS), as well as at-risk habitat full of at-risk species (protected in the PPS). Expanding for more people MUST be through intensification. If the municipality has not done their job (i.e., they have used up most of their current housing area for large single-family dwellings, instead of providing a range of affordability, and areas of high intensification) there should be repercussions.

So, as I said, stick with the plan, and make sure there are appropriate conditions to anything you decide such that this municipality, or any others, are not given a "free pass" for what amounts to ignoring their OPs, Room to Grow, and the PPS.