LSRCA decision explanation raises many questions

From Jack Gibbons North Gwillimbury Forest Alliance

The LSRCA’s explanation of why they decided to delay implementation of new Watershed Development Guidelines for over a month raises as many questions as it answers. So we are asking those questions, including why is the authority recommending a development approvals swap that would allow the DG Group (formerly Metrus) to build a subdivision on farmlands in the Greenbelt Protected Countryside instead of in a designated urban development area? And will it allow the public to review any applications that it receives from the DG Group to proceed with its Maple Lake Estates project on the Paradise Beach-Island Grove provincially significant wetland?

On the first issue, it would make more sense for the Conservation Authority -which is not in charge of development planning – to abstain from making any recommendations on development approval swaps. Instead, the authority should be a neutral party that assess any proposed swap on its suitability from the perspective of the authority’s watershed and natural areas protection mandate. In other words, it is not the authority’s job to promote the DG Group’s preferred solution.

On the second issue, given that the authority deliberately left the door open to applications under its old, outdated and illegal guidelines, the least it could do is share the details of any application with the public and seek public feedback on the application. More secrecy is not going to give any decision on a permit application much credibility with voters.

You can read our questions to the LSRCA here and you can send its board members a message (click here) asking them to let you know their answers. We must hold the elected representatives who make up the LSRCA board accountable for their actions.