Share Your Opinion on the Co-ordinated Review

August 12, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Sylvia Jones, MPP

Dufferin-Caledon

I want to make you aware of a public consultation that is underway called the Co-ordinated Land Use Planning Review.

The review includes revisions to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, the Greenbelt, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, and the Niagara Escarpment Plan.

These plans define how our communities and landowners are able to use impacted land. Portions of these plans impact many communities within Dufferin-Caledon.

One of the proposed changes calls for a substantial increase to the boundary of the Niagara Escarpment Plan Area in Mono, Mulmur and Melancthon.

The Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) is proposing an expansion of about 2,500 acres in Mono, 14,000 acres in Mulmur and 2,200 acres in Melancthon. The Co-ordinated Review is also hoping to grow the Greenbelt, particularly in areas where “important water resources are under pressure from urban growth.”

The Co-ordinated Review proposes to increase intensity of development with more residential growth in areas that are already built-up and increase density of development by increasing the target for jobs and residents per hectare.

This means that development in our community would increase within existing communities and new development would be more compact when it is new lands.

The Co-ordinated Review is not only about increasing the size of the four plans or the nature of development. It also includes discussion and feedback about the function of the plans and the services they provide.

If you are interested in learning more about the proposed changes, the discussion paper titled Our Region, Our Community, Our Home is available on my website: www.sylviajonesmpp.ca.

On June 9, 2016, there was an open house on the Co-ordinated Review in Caledon East.

I have written to the Minister of Natural Resources calling on the government to organize an open house in Dufferin County to allow residents to review the recommendations and have staff available to answer questions.

While we wait for the government to decide on whether to have an open house in Dufferin County, or if you missed the open house in Caledon, there is an online web form where you can submit your comments: www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page14851.aspx

I know that many municipal types of council are submitting their recommendations, and individuals have an opportunity to provide feedback as well.

Your opinion is important.

The outcome of the review and the changes accepted by the government will shape the character of our communities for years to come.

The deadline for submitting your comments is September 30, 2016.

If you need assistance finding information on the review, or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 1-800-265-1603 or sylvia.jonesco@pc.ola.org.