ERO 019-6174 Comments re…

ERO 019-6174 Comments re Proposed Revocation of the Central Pickering Development Plan

General Observations:

I do not think that revoking the Central Pickering Development Plan is a good idea. Pickering
Is a well-planned city. It is not in the interest of the City of Pickering to have a large municipality
such as Metropolitan Toronto at its doorstep. Thus, thus the Durham Rouge Agricultural Reserve (DRAP) serves as an excellent buffer or greenbelt separating the City of Pickering and
and Metropolitan Toronto.

Much arable land has been lost to settlement the Greater Toronto Area. The DRAP, which has
been included in Greenbelt planning, is important for maintaining a remnant of the arable land
for agriculture. The DRAP is thus a source of food for eastern Metropolitan Toronto and the west side of Durham Regional Municipality. This means that the area has existing sustainability.

Setting aside areas such as the DRAP have been successful in the United Kingdom and in the European Union in France, Germany, and Italy. Such areas provide a large portion of the food
for the cities which they are near. They give the areas some self-sufficiency in food i.e., not having to import food products from abroad. Ontario was once almost completely self-sufficient in food production. The DRAP maintains some of that self-sufficiency which is
reason enough to not revoke the Central Pickering Development Plan.

The DRAP complements the agricultural zone in the north of the Rouge National Urban Park,
Provides arable lands on which to raise crops and husband farm animals. It is an integral part of the Greenbelt providing good “green” separation of the municipalities of the City of Pickering
and Metropolitan Toronto.

Here’s what will happen if the Central Pickering Development Plan is revoked:

1) There will be wall to wall unbroken urbanization from St. Catherines all the way around the west end of Lake Ontario to at least as far as Bowmanville in Clarington municipality, thus creating a megalopolis much like Tokyo, Mexico City, and New York City;

2) The DRAP, which is an area of arable land, will be lost as a source of food to the east end of
Metropolitan Toronto and the west end of Durham Region;

3) Turning the DRAP over for housing means that a green space with connection to Rouge National Urban Park and stretching to the Oak Ridges Moraine is lost;

4) The DRAP is a source of drinking water. Its south end is on the north side of what was
once the shore of glacial Lake Iroquois. There are many springs in that area. The north of
the DRAP touches the Oak Ridges Moraine – another source of drinking water. Urbanization
of the DRAP will eliminate or alter many of the drinking water sources.

5) Revoking the Central Pickering Development Plan would endanger the headwaters of the Duffins and Carruthers Creeks. Thus, the Creeks would be degraded downstream by urbanization in their headwaters, along their tributaries, and along their embankments.

6) Urbanization of the headwaters of Duffins and Carruthers Creeks endangers fishes that
Need the cold waters of the headwater source areas for spawning and growth.

Recommendations:

a) Leave the Durham Rouge Agricultural Reserve as is into perpetuity as a place that provides food, drinking water, recreational opportunities, and for educational purposes for the children
of the future.

b) The DRAP needs to be maintained as part of the Greenbelt.

c) Keep the DRAP as buffer separating Metropolitan Toronto and the City of Pickering, thus
preventing the creation of a Greater Toronto Area megalopolis.

d) The DRAP does not need to be urbanized and the City of Pickering Development Plan does not need to be revoked. Pickering is already in the process of densification of its living areas as can be seen in the vicinity of the Pickering Town Centre and the Seaton development to the
North. Pickering has set aside sufficient land in its present boundaries to grow.

e) Keep urbanization away from the headwaters of creeks such as Duffins and Carruthers.

f) Be careful not to urbanize tributaries of creeks and streams.

g) Follow the eight goals of the Pickering Central Development Plan. These goals provide sustainability to the City of Pickering.

Conclusion:

I do not want to see the Pickering Central Development Plan revoked. The Durham Rouge
Agricultural Reserve needs to remain as is into perpetuity for future generations of citizens of Ontario to appreciate. Leave the headwaters of the area’s creeks and streams free of urbanization. The creeks are vital habitat for the fishes that live, spawn, and grow in them.
Take note that the DRAP provides a source of food, water, and recreation for citizens of Ontario. All that must be done is to say no, the DRAP is to be left alone along with the
Headwaters areas.

Thank you for the opportunity to express these thoughts.