Niagara Escarpment Plan Amendment PC 197 13

This notice was updated on June 12, 2019 to advise the public that there has been no change to the status of the proposal and it is still being considered. No additional opportunity for comment is bring provided for at this time.

Description of policy

The Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) is proposing to amend the Niagara Escarpment Plan by changing the land use designations on the Pinchin Pit property in the Town of Caledon. This property is currently designated as Mineral Resource Extraction Area. The Aggregate Resource Act licence is expected to be surrendered in a few years’ time and quarry activities on the site have ceased, as the majority of the lands have been placed in public ownership and will ultimately be used for parkland purposes. The lands should be re-designated to the appropriate land use designation as per the criteria contained in the Niagara Escarpment Plan. The appropriate land use designations are Escarpment Natural Area and Escarpment Rural Area with an overlay of Public Land (in Parks and Open Space System) on those portions transferred to the conservation authority.

The re-designation of these lands to Escarpment Natural and Escarpment Rural Areas will allow for the continued regeneration of the former quarry lands and for the protection of the natural features on the site, which includes Provincially Significant Wetlands. Protecting the wetlands, buffers, and regenerating portions of the property is important to the long-term sustainability of the Niagara Escarpment as a unique, substantially continuous natural environment corridor. These designations will allow for non-intensive recreational uses on the property.

Purpose of policy

The purpose of this proposal is to give notice and invite comment on the re-designation of the Pinchin Pit lands to Escarpment Natural Area, Escarpment Rural Area and Public Land (in Parks and Open Space System), as per the criteria contained in the Niagara Escarpment Plan.

Other public consultation opportunities

A notice has been placed in the Caledon Citizen newspaper, and the landowners and property owners within 120 metres of area of the Amendment have received direct notification (by mail). Public and stakeholder agencies, including but not limited to the Town of Caledon, the Region of Peel, Credit Valley Conservation, the Bruce Trail Conservancy, Ontario Heritage Trust, and affected ministries will also receive notification.