ERO 019 6218 Proposed…

ERO 019 6218 Proposed redesignation of land under the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan

General Observations:

I do not agree with the Proposed redesignation of land under the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan. It is contrary to the stated principal in the current Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan which is listed in 019 6218 as follows:

“The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan does not permit the expansion of Settlement Area boundaries into Natural Core Areas or Natural Linkage Areas. Land also cannot be removed from these designations through the 10-year review process.”

As with the Greenbelt Regulation 019 6217 Proposal, redesignating land under the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan – 019 6218 - would set a precedent for possible future land removals from the area under the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan.

There’s absolutely no need to redesignate the boundaries of land from the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan as per Map 1 which shows land to removed from the Greenbelt and another parcel to be redesignated to Settlement Area. Municipal Plans of ALL GTA Municipalities, contain provisions for growth to the mid 21st Century. Some of these Municipalities have gone so far as to include growth densification in their municipal plans thereby obfuscating any need by the present Ontario Government to change plan boundaries.

Proposing redesignations that would see lands removed from the edge of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan area is not going to solve the need for affordable housing and or for those wishing to move to their own housing units. Instead, the government should be encouraging Municipalities to densify housing in their growth areas without having to remove land and change boundaries of the Plan.

Here’s what will happen if the Proposed Redesignation to the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan is enacted:

1) Changing the boundary of land parcels shown on Map 1 and removing these lands from the edge of the Oak Ridges Moraine Plan area sets a precedent for further boundary changes and removals in the future.

2) The redesignation proposal disregards the “Expansion of Settlement Area” principal set out
in the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan. Expansion is not to be permitted but by an
expedient this is being changed.

3) The natural environment and any agricultural lands in the area of Map 1 will be lost to
housing units.

Recommendations:

a) Do not redesignate or remove the lands shown in Map 1 from the Oak Ridges Moraine
Conservation Plan. Such redesignations and removals encourage future precedents for
such facilitations.

b) Follow the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan principal which states that shall be no expansion of the Settlement Area in to the Plan area.

c) Continue to preserve the integrity of the natural environment and the existing agricultural
lands. The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan has been a good planning document. Let’s not change it if it is not warranted.

Conclusion:

The redesignation as outlined in this proposal must not be done. It leads to a future precedent if allowed to be enacted. Continue to follow the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan as is. Know,
too, that there are sufficient lands within the boundaries of Municipalities within which to grow by densification. Redesignation of lands to Settlement Area and removal of lands from the edge of the adjacent Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan area means loss of natural environment and agricultural areas. Let’s just leave the area alone.

Thank you for the opportunity to make comments on this proposal.