Dear Minister Calandra,…

Dear Minister Calandra,

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the most recent announcement impacting Provincial decisions to Wellington County’s Official Plan Amendment 120. We support your efforts to be transparent while reviewing the proposed amendments. The Township of Mapleton continues to honor this process and therefore we are openly submitting our request that you include Mapleton’s recommended boundary expansion through OPA 120.

The main changes proposed for Mapleton in the subsequent Official Plan submissions include the recommendation to optimize our land supply to expand the urban boundary areas of Drayton and Moorefield. This expansion will support our community's future long-term residential and employment growth.

Although our municipality has not been given specific housing targets, we share your concern and support your efforts to provide a mix of attainable and affordable housing investments. We took the opportunity to revisit our Growth Management Study in light of the changes proposed to planning legislation and policy by your government. It was concluded that our study and proposed urban boundary expansion support our mutual interest to provide a mix of housing and your commitment to build 1.5 million homes by 2031.

Mapleton Council has unanimously approved the Growth Management Study and commitment to do our part to invest in the Province’s housing pledge of 29,000 units by 2031. Our community is prepared, and our Growth Management Study is well-founded.

On behalf of Council and the entire Township of Mapleton, I would like to thank you again for this opportunity to provide input on the recommendations of Official Plan Amendment 120 and the importance of moving forward to ensure that our current and future citizens have a place to call home.

Thank you,
Manny Baron, C.A.O.
Township of Mapleton