Dear Sir / Madame, I would…

Dear Sir / Madame,

I would like to comment on two important changes that I would appreciate if the province can address when reviewing the Oak Ridges Moraine policy / Act.

1. Currently the province promotes second dwellings all across Ontario. However, people living on large properties in the oak ridges moraine are not permitted to build a second dwelling on their property as the oak ridges policy / Act prohibits second dwellings in the oak ridges moraine. If second dwellings are permitted on large acreages in the oak ridges moraine that would help parents help their children with more affordable homes and also help our seniors so they will not have to move to retirement homes as they can have their family members build a second dwelling on the acreage and our seniors can continue to live at home.
Under the current oak ridges policy property owners in the oak ridges moraine are permitted to build large sheds, and accessory structures on their properties in addition to the principle home. If property owners are permitted to build large sheds and accessory structures some of which are 40x60 in size, why not allow a second dwelling? What is the logic when a large shed or accessory structure can be build on a property to store Recreational vehicles in the oak ridges moraine but a second dwelling to provide a home for our children cannot be build on the same property?
Please note this is not meant to support large developments in the oak ridges moraine but only to build secondary dwellings on individual properties.

2. There are currently many people moving into the oak ridges moraine and surrounding areas but there is lack of employment opportunities. It would be helpful if the government can make changes to the oak ridges moraine policy / Act to amend the oak ridges policy / Act to permit limited outside storage to promote small business on any lot of 5 acres or more with the following conditions put in place .

a) The property owner proposing outside storage should have a property a minimum of 5 acres.

b) The property should not have any significant woodlands, wetlands or water courses running through or on the property.

c) Only light open storage shall be permitted on the property no heavy equipment and a maximum of 5 large tractor trailers.

d) No matter how large the property is in size, the property owner shall only be permitted to use a maximum if 2.5 -3 acres for outside storage.

e) outside storage in the oak ridges moraine shall only be permitted on properties that front on either a provincial, regional or county road so that these roads can provide the necessary infrastructure needed to make these small business successful and bring employment to the area.

f) If proper laws are put in place for outside storage in the oak ridges moraine it will eliminate all the illegal storage businesses currently in operation and will actually help detect illegal operators and protect the moraine from illegal deforestation and destruction of the environment.

I look forward to the province reviewing the oak ridges policy and permitting second dwellings on large acreages of 5 acres or larger and that the oak ridges policy also permits outside storage in the oak ridges moraine on properties 5 acres of larger with no significant woodlands, wetlands etc and only a maximum of 2.5 -3 acres be permitted for outside storage.

Thanks