NEWSMAKERS 2022: York Region's official plan gets green light after months of debate

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 3, 2023

Back in January, the Region of York invited the public to “have your say” -- and boy, did they.

The region’s call-out asked local residents: Where would you put 991,400 new neighbours?

That’s the number of new residents expected in the coming 30 years and the region -- preparing its official plan for the province’s July deadline -- wanted to know how locals thought that growth should go.

But the consultation process soon evolved into a series of heated and contentious meetings with those who agreed with the draft plan (mostly developers), and those who did not (those worried about impact on the environment, affordability and urban sprawl).

Hundreds voiced concerns about what they viewed as a lack of measures to address the housing crisis, NIMBYism, lost agricultural land, frequency and availability of public transit, proposed highways and environmental protection.

After months of wrangling, the final, eight-hour debate and vote took place June 30.

Regional chair Wayne Emmerson called it, “the most challenging day in my 30-plus years."

Vaughan Regional Councillor Gino Rosati called it "complex."

Georgina Mayor Margaret Quirk called it "a circus."

"There is so much wrong here that I can't even begin to unravel it," she said.

Council voted 14-7 to adopt the new official plan that expands settlement areas, potentially opening up almost 8,000 acres of green space for development, then sent it off to the province for approval.

Environmental groups warned the province could not approve the document. It did not conform to the Greenbelt Plan, they said, and was therefore illegal.

And yet, Minister of Municipal Affairs Stephen Clark did approve it with modifications Nov. 4, the same day as it announced the release of Greenbelt lands for development.