The removal of the Duffins…

The removal of the Duffins-Rouge Agricultural Preserve lands from the Greenbelt is supported. This will allow the implementation of an urban area boundary expansion on these lands. This is consistent with Pickering Council’s adoption of Amendment 13 to the Pickering Official Plan in 2004, which
implemented the results of the City’s Growth Management Study. It is also consistent with subsequent requests from Pickering Council in 2016, the former Mayor in 2019 and 2022, and the current Mayor on November 16, 2022. Should the lands be removed from the Greenbelt, the City’s objective is not just to see houses built, but a ‘community’ built. Accordingly, it is recommended that an appropriate land use and policy framework be put in place addressing matters such as: establishing a robust open space and natural heritage system and functions; establishing generous active recreational areas; requiring the implementation of the results of appropriate subwatershed/master environmental studies; requiring front funding agreements for municipal soft and hard services, for other community infrastructure such as schools, and for regional infrastructure; and requiring the construction of an agreed to percentage of housing that is affordable to low and moderate income households.

Please see the attachment for more comprehensive comments.