Hold a planning review workshop in Simcoe County, Minister Jeffrey

AWARE Simcoe November 5 2012
MIDHURST – AWARE Simcoe is calling on Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Linda Jeffrey to hold one of a series of workshops on her review of Ontario land use planning and development charges in Simcoe County.

The Simcoe Sub-area is the only jurisdiction within the Greater Golden Horseshoe to be specifically addressed in the Places to Grow legislation, AWARE Simcoe chair Don Morgan points out in a letter sent to Jeffrey on November 4.
“Section 6 and Amendments 1 and 2 are a clear demonstration of the unique nature of the land use stresses that we face,” Morgan writes, pointing out that issues relevant to Simcoe County might not received adequate consideration in workshops where residents of major cities will be focusing on very different matters.
The ministry has scheduled workshops this month and next in Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Kitchener-Waterloo, Ottawa, Mississauga and Toronto. Comments are due by January 10.
Full text of AWARE Simcoe letter to Jeffrey:
AWARE Simcoe welcomes your review of land use planning and development charges, although we regret that the Ontario Municipal Board itself is not included.
AWARE Simcoe is surprised that no workshop is being held in Simcoe County, where intense development pressure is leading to sprawl and the loss of irreplaceable farmland. This oversight is curious in view of the fact that the Simcoe Sub-area is the only jurisdiction within the Greater Golden Horseshoe to be specifically addressed in Places to Grow.  Section 6 and Amendments 1 and 2 are a clear demonstration of the unique nature of the land use stresses that we face.
This review is of extreme importance to Simcoe County, an area undergoing daunting changes that in many areas seem to contradict the policies expressed in Places to Grow.
We hope that upon consideration you will see the value of engaging residents and stakeholders in this county, many of whom are troubled by some of the development that has already taken place and have grave concerns with respect to development that is projected under current plans.
We are concerned that our issues might not receive adequate consideration in workshops where residents of major cities will be focusing on equally important but very different issues.
Please schedule a workshop in Simcoe County.
Yours sincerely
Don Morgan
Chair
AWARE Simcoe
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