Thank you for the…

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments regarding Bill 23 through the Environmental Registry Office (‘ERO’). We are planning consultants writing on behalf of Westlake Canada Inc., dba Westlake Pipe & Fittings, (‘Westlake’), a well-established manufacturing company located in the City of Vaughan, Region of York.

Notwithstanding the ‘housing’ objectives of Bill 23, there is a need to also ensure that the established land use compatibility framework continues to protect the long-term viability of existing or planned industrial, manufacturing or other uses within Employments Areas. By definition these uses are defined as ‘Major Facilities’ and ‘Major goods movement facilities and corridors’, and their industrial functions are potentially vulnerable to encroachment by proposed new nearby residential uses, defined as ‘Sensitive Land Uses’, that require land use conversions.

It is important in my professional planning opinion that municipalities, in the preparation and implementation of their respective Official Plans, continue to protect vulnerable ‘Employment Areas’ from the potential encroachment of any new residential or ’Sensitive Land Uses’, with effective land use planning policies and regulations that are consistent with the PPS, and in conformity with the Growth Plan.