Town staff against changes to Greenbelt boundary in Queensville

YorkRegion.com
Feb. 8, 2017

During the recent Greenbelt review, the province identified 13 areas with changes to the proposed boundary and one of the changes was in East Gwillimbury.

The proposed changes affect 511 and 641 Queensville Sideroad on the southwest corner of the Queensville Sideroad and 2nd Concession intersection.

Director of Planning Nick Pileggi said he was a little puzzled as to why the boundaries were changed at this location.  Town staff said the land at the corner is more appropriately used as supporting the natural heritage system than as urban development.
Town staff said they do not support the removal of the lands from the Greenbelt.

The new boundary wasn’t the only problem staff had with the province during the Greenbelt review. According to the town report, the municipality has repeatedly requested that the province identify and protect the lands bounded by Highway 404 to the west, Woodbine Avenue to the east, Green Lane to the north and Davis Drive to the south, for employment uses. Town staff believe these lands are strategically located for employment uses given their proximity to existing and planned water/wastewater servicing infrastructure, as well as their location next to a 400-series highway. Despite the Greenbelt review, the province has yet to address this request from the town. While the land to the north of Green Lane is designated for employment, the land to the south carries Greenbelt designation.

York Region is counting on the town to be a key growth centre in both population and employment. While the region is slated to increase its number of jobs by 32 per cent from 2011 to 2031, East Gwillimbury is aiming to increase its employment by 364 per cent.  That’s an increase from 7,400 jobs to 34,000 in the span of 20 years.  

The province formally launched its public consultation on the proposed changes to the Greenbelt Plan area boundary on January 11, 2017. The public may provide their feedback directly by sending an email or letter, or by posting on the Ontario Environmental Registry. The province has asked that all comments be received by February 27.