Chiarelli to reveal vision for Simcoe County Jan. 19

AWARE Simcoe December30 2011 

Infrastructure Minister Bob Chiarelli will reveal the “shared vision” for growth in Simcoe County at a lunch to be hosted by the Alliston and District Chamber of Commerce on January 19.

In a letter to stakeholders, who have participated in consultation on the proposed Amendment 1 to the province’s growth plant for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, Chiarelli says he will outline how the province “will help address the unique challenges of managing growth and protecting the environment in the Simcoe Area.”

Before the lunch, there will be a technical briefing with Provincial Development Facilitator Paula Dill and ministry staff. To register, contact Krista Nicol at krista.nicol@ontario.ca.

AWARE Simcoe has called on the province to control sprawl, and supported its efforts to preserve farmland and natural spaces, mandate intensification of development and control excessive designation of settlement areas by Simcoe County municipalities.

The proposed expansion of Midhurst to 30,000 residents, is a prime example of such problematic approvals.  

Simcoe County Council, along with local municipalities, has expressed outrage that the province would stand in the way of its plans for growth.

In his letter, Chiarelli writes: “I believe that our “made-in-Simcoe” approach will allow Simcoe municipalities, Barrie and Orillia to approve development that makes sense for their communities, protects the natural environment, safeguards the water quality of Lake Simcoe and supports local agriculture.”