Take action locally for greener growth in the Simcoe area

Newsletter from Campaign Lake Simcoe April 20 2011

The province has appointed a facilitator to further discuss the implementation of the 

Proposed Amendment 1 to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe with municipalities in the Simcoe area. The facilitator will “review and consider a wide range of growth planning issues and municipal concerns before the Government of Ontario proceeds with the proposed Amendment.” 

We urge you to contact your municipal Councilor or all of Council, to tell then what kind of growth you want in Simcoe County. 

 When municipalities meet with the facilitator, they should represent YOU. 

You can send them the Campaign Lake Simcoe Growth Plan Amendment EBR Submission which you can download from www.CampaignLakeSimcoe.ca. If you agree with it, tell them! The main points we think people should communicate to their Councils are:

* Population allocations must consider the assimilative capacity of the receiving bodies of water, and must not result in an increase in Phosphorus to Lake Simcoe;

* Do not proceed with employment areas on Hwy 400. They are unnecessary and will lead to further sprawl and unsustainable development; 

* Establish clear transition rules from the “Wild West” of planning that exists now to the framework proposed in this Amendment, and make implementation of the Amendment fair in all communities:

* Extend the requirement under the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan to undertake environment assessments on supporting infrastructure before approving land use designations, to all of Simcoe County;  

* Do not decrease the density allowed anywhere in this plan, and instead increase density targets to 75 jobs and residents per hectare (j&r/ha) and use that number as a condition for future population allocations;

* Introduce a community design, water/wastewater management and green building standard against which population allocations can be assessed.

 When?

Do it now! On April 26, the mayors and deputy mayors of Simcoe County will be meeting with three area Tory MPPs – Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North), Jim Wilson (Simcoe Grey) and Julia Munro (York Simcoe) and Warden Cal Patterson. Patterson has stated that he considers that growth should be the only topic of discussion with provincial representatives.

How?

 You can send your email to the municipal Clerk to send to all of Council, or you can contact them directly yourself. You can find Councillors’ contact information on each municipality’s website.