I am urging the Province to…

I am urging the Province to permit new housing development on “existing vacant lots of record” where residential uses are permitted in settlement areas with full municipal water and sewage services. Too many vacant private properties are being strictly regulated by conservation authorities and the burden of conserving land/natural heritage features is being transferred to private property owners who have no other reasonable use of their vacant, residential properties.

On October 21, 2022, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that "regulations that leave a rights holder with only notional use of the land, deprived of all economic value, would satisfy the test for a de facto expropriation requiring compensation. It could also include confining the uses of private land to public purposes, such as conservation" (Annapolis vs. Halifax). Therefore, conservation authorities should be required to acquire such lands where no development is feasible, and when they refuse to issue permits for new housing development.

I own a property in Toronto located on a residential street that cannot be developed according to the conservation authority, despite geotechnical engineers confirming the bedrock and soil is stable, and there is no risk of erosion. I am hoping for much needed change.