This enhanced authority…

This enhanced authority would give the Minister too much power and would further trample on the rights of municipalities and the people who live in them. Of great concern to me is "The authority, if utilized by the Minister, would supersede municipal site plan authority, where the Minister so provides in a zoning order." "However, the Minister will be able to give binding direction outside the zoning order concerning the agreement to scope the matters that need to be addressed or to specify how the matters are to be addressed." The Minister doesn't live in most of these municipalities and wouldn't have to face the consequences of these unilateral decisions. The municipalities and the people who live in them know what is best for their communities - not the Minister! MZOs are already being used too much to unilaterally & arbitrarily make decisions without public consultation while ignoring existing policies. The additional power would only further benefit sprawl developers and further lead to the destruction of wetlands, forests, farmland and the wildlife that live in these natural areas as well as change the character of municipalities & communities. I ask that Section 47 of Bill 197 be repealed.