SUBMISSION TO THE MINISTRY…

SUBMISSION TO THE MINISTRY OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS AND HOUSING ON
PROPOSAL TO GROW THE SIZE OF THE GREENBELT

JUSTIFICATION FOR RETENTION AND EXPANSION OF THE GREENBELT
In establishing a Greenbelt in the Greater Golden Horseshoe planning area, the Province of Ontario recognized the obligation, accepted and embraced by the current population of Ontario, to preserve a sufficient expanse of countryside surrounding designated areas for urban expansion and intensification so as to provide for future generations in the next century the same environmental services of food production, accessible water resources and scenic amenity as are available to this generation.
The beauty of the rural countryside of Ontario outside urban areas is treasured by residents of the countryside as their life support system and, for many, their source of livelihood. The countryside is equally valued by urban residents as an accessible reminder of the natural world of living plants and animals that sustain life and provide visitors with access to vistas of natural and pastoral beauty that enrich and sustain their physical, emotional and spiritual health.
As the population in the Greater Golden Horseshoe continues to expand the maintenance of sufficient areal expanse of countryside to assure reliable food sources, retention of protected areas for recharge, storage and transmission of groundwater, and uninterrupted vistas of cultural heritage landscapes is increasingly challenging.
The existing Greenbelt has proven to be a very good start to the permanent protection of the countryside essential to the health and prosperity of all residents and visitors to the Greater Golden Horseshoe now and in the next century. However, there are critically important areas outside the existing Greenbelt that must be added if the Greenbelt is to fulfill its promise. The Paris-Galt Moraine and valleys of the groundwater-fed rivers and streams sustained by the Paris-Galt Moraine are essential additions.

Question 1: What are your thoughts on the initial focus area of the Study Area of the Paris Galt Moraine?

The Paris-Galt moraine is the correct choice for the highest priority area to be added to the Greenbelt. The hydrological importance of the hummocky topography of this moraine as the major source of recharge to the regional-scale groundwater system south and east of Guelph has been recognized for over a century. Recharge from the moraine maintains streamflow in all the streams with headwaters proximate to the moraine and supplies Guelph with a large proportion of its water supply at the Arkell Glen wellfield.
The landscape of the Paris Galt moraine is highly regarded by residents of the City of Guelph and by residents in the moraine. The Starkey Hills Conservation Area just outside the south-eastern boundary of the City is frequently cited as an important source of revitalization and is extensively visited. The City of Guelph has recognized the scenic value of the cultural heritage landscape of the Paris-Galt moraine that is within the City of Guelph limits and has instructed staff to protect significant cultural heritage landscapes within the moraine.

Question 2: What are the considerations in moving from a Study Area to a more defined boundary of the Paris Galt Moraine?

From both a hydrological-system perspective and from a landscape value perspective all the glacial outwash features that adjoin the moraine and which connect it hydrologically and visually to the adjacent river valleys must be included in the protected Greenbelt.
In particular the Study area should be expanded to include the entire watershed of the Eramosa River. The Eramosa is an exceptional river with one of the highest proportions of baseflow from groundwater in Ontario. The streamflow in the Eramosa sustains a coldwater fishery and the Eramosa is an indirect supply source for Guelph’s water supply by extraction for induced infiltration at Arkell Glen.
The submission by the GRCA identifies the Eramosa River and Blue Springs Creek as groundwater-fed streams requiring special attention and has an extended list of other similar streams. All of these watersheds should be included in the study area to allow proper consideration of what features should be given permanent protection within the Greenbelt.

Question 3: What are your thoughts on the initial focus area of adding, expanding and further protecting Urban River Valleys?

River valleys are an essential part of the experiencing of natural beauty within urban areas. The inclusion of Urban River valleys within the Greenbelt encourages the permanent protection of those natural features is thus a logical extension of the Greenbelt. Additional segments of urban river valleys should be added to the Greenbelt. The valleys of the Speed and Eramosa rivers and Hanlon Creek within the City of Guelph are among the segments that should be added.
However, using the descriptor “Urban River Valleys” to include possible policy changes for expanding and further protecting the portions of river valleys that are in the countryside outside of urban areas is not appropriate. There is need for expansion of the protection extended to rivers and streams in the Greenbelt. In particular rivers and streams with exceptional properties of undisturbed natural beauty and high-water quality such as the Eramosa River should have Conservation Easements of at least 60 m minimum width extended the full length of the main channel on both banks.
Greenbelt policies for Countryside Areas should be amended to create a designation of “Exceptional Value” streams that meet established criteria (as is done in the State of Pennsylvania). Special protection should be given to EV streams, including he requirement for Conservation Easements along both banks.

Question 4: Do you have suggestions for other potential areas to grow the Greenbelt?

The Region of Waterloo has designated Environmentally Sensitive Landscapes for large areas with exceptional vistas of wetlands, woodlands, river and stream valleys and cultivated fields. There should be a scanning to establish whether there are areas with these valued features immediately adjacent to areas qualifying for Greenbelt protection as moraines. If any such areas are found these areas should be considered for possible extension of the Greenbelt to include them.

Question 5: How should we balance or prioritize any potential Greenbelt expansion with the other provincial priorities mentioned above?

A major unresolved issue with the existing Greenbelt is how to determine whether additional sites for gravel extraction should be allowed in the Greenbelt. The extraction of gravel results in an alteration of the landscape in all cases, and excavation below the watertable results in a loss of land surface with a permanent water surface replacing a land surface on the site.
Applications for new locations for above-the-watertable gravel extraction should be assessed on the basis of a cost vs benefit analysis showing that the benefit to society of extracting gravel for use in construction was clearly larger than the cost to society of the loss of scenic value resulting from removal of any distinctive features on site. The analysis must account for the in perpetuity nature of the scenic value compared to the finite period of the gravel-use benefit. Full remediation of the site to agricultural use following the end of extraction must be demonstrated and funds set aside for full remediation.
Applications for new locations for below-the-watertable extraction should not be permitted anywhere in the Greenbelt. An exception could be made if it can be demonstrated that the post-use landscape with a created small lake would have equal social benefits as the original landform taking full account of the loss of land surface for agricultural use and the loss of scenic landform features.

Question 6: Are there other priorities that should be considered?

All decisions on land use planning must take into account the necessity for all human settlements to conform to making progress toward a sustainable economy and way of living. As citizens living in the new geologic era, the Anthropocene, in which the consequences of profligate use of materials and energy and careless discarding of the by-products of human activity has created a crisis of unparalleled severity and global extent we must be aware of the deficiencies of our current way of life and adjust our pattern of living to make future sustainability possible.
Fixing and retaining hard boundaries for urban areas, protecting the agricultural and visual resources of the countryside and enhancing accessibility to natural beauty in both urban areas and countryside are all policies that encourage selection of ways of living that allow reduced use of energy and material while providing the potential for enjoyable lives in prospering communities for all citizens.
Constructing new high-capacity expressways through the Green Belt – such as the proposed HWY 413 – are actions that worsen the global climate crisis and should not be allowed.