‘Slow down’: York Region councillors urged to change or delay Official Plan

Third plan in the region's history is drawing criticism, concern

Yorkregion.com
May 26, 2022
Kim Zarzour

York Region is being accused of rushed and "backwards" planning for the future.

The criticisms were among several voiced at a council meeting May 19 dealing with the region’s land use planning over the next 30 years.

The draft Regional Official Plan, outlining how best to accommodate future growth, was released in November 2021.

It is a significant document, the third regional official plan in the region’s history, and it’s not without controversy.

Last fall, environmentalists decried a decision by council to permit portions of the Greenbelt to be redesignated from “prime agricultural” to “rural” and to approve a lower intensification rate they fear will add to urban sprawl.

Other feedback from the public showed a strong desire to increase rental housing, develop an affordable housing strategy, address the “missing middle” in housing and combat Nimbyism, as well as concerns about lost agricultural land, frequency and availability of public transit, proposed highways and environmental protection.

The May 19 meeting heard more concerns from hundreds more through delegations, letters and a petition.

While representatives for several developers and landowners from Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Whitchurch-Stouffville argued for local matters -- asking for an area-specific conversion from employment to community zones, for example, or expansion of the urban area -- several advocacy groups and residents took issue with the bigger picture.

This was expected to be the last public meeting before the proposed Official Plan is presented for adoption in June, i time to forward to the minister of municipal affairs by the province's July deadline.

But after further discussion, the chief planner’s report was referred to council Mar. 26. Staff is expected to report back with an updated draft plan incorporating changes recommended as a result of feedback heard at the public meetings.

Ontario issues orders to fast-track developments in Richmond Hill, Markham amid rising criticism.

Key quotes from delegations:

KIM EMPRINGHAM

The spokesperson for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture expressed concern about proposals to remove land from the Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine.

“There are also several smaller threats that could amount to a death by 1,000 cuts. We all value the large amount of environmental land in the region and the environmental goods and services it provides. But there’s a lack of awareness that agricultural land provides many of the same environmental goods and services, such as air quality biodiversity, carbon sequestration, climate change mitigation, nutrient cycling, pollution services, soil erosion control, water filtration and retention, flood mitigation, groundwater recharge, wildlife and endangered species habitat.

“Agricultural land should be recognized in the Official Plan as part of the natural environment and supported and protected.”

JOE GOODE

The Pefferlaw resident said the amount of farmland that is being proposed for development -- between 3,000 to 4,000 hectares -- is “outrageous,” and he urged council to delay until the fall.

The plan “goes against numerous provincial statutes, does not align with environmental policy and the provincial growth plan, there are notable weaknesses and gaps including the extensive amount of land to be developed, and no clear written strategy for Indigenous housing, Black housing and other racialized and marginalized groups.”

SUSAN SHEARD

The Georgina resident said some regional councillors have argued that they must conform to provincial policy.

“I argue that there is a plethora of provincial legislation that regional councillors must therefore also comply with that are in opposition to sprawling suburban neighbourhoods.

“The fact is, the province’s well-documented excessive use of MZOs and EMZOs has demonstrated that it routinely overturns any provincial legislation that interferes with its sprawl agenda .... Both history and current global events show us that there are times when it is necessary to stand up to higher levels of government.”

JOSIE ROSE

The Affordable Housing Coalition of York Region applauded the robust targets for affordable housing developments in the official plan draft but encouraged council to strengthen its definition of affordability, putting it at or below market rent, or below 30 per cent of income.

“We have seen rent for a single bedroom unit has gone up to $1,875, which only 38 per cent of households in York Region can actually afford. You have to earn $75,000 to be able to afford rent in York Region.”

CLAIRE MALCOLMSON

Armed with a petition from Stop Sprawl York Region, Malcolmson said the region is going about its official plan backwards.

She urged councillors to put the approval process on hold until after the provincial and municipal elections.

"There are a lot of loose ends," she said.

The region’s affordability strategy is not finished yet, climate target-setting is not complete and the future of Upper York Sewage Solution is unclear, she said.

“Finally, in the south end, we have enhanced ministers zoning orders that residents are battling, and those numbers have not been worked into the Official Plan. I don't see how you are prepared in one month to wrap up all these issues and pass an official plan.”