It’s time for the LSRCA to close the Maple Lake Estates Loophole

From the North Gwillimbury Forest Alliance September 13 2013
The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority’s (LSRCA) Watershed Development Policy 11.4.1.2 — a.k.a., the Maple Lake Estates Loophole  — provides automatic approval for development in registered plans of subdivision that are within  provincially significant wetlands (PSW) without regard to their adverse ecological impacts for Lake Simcoe and its watershed.

This loophole would provide Metrus Developments with automatic approval for a Section 28 permit to proceed with a 1,073 unit mobile home park on the Paradise Beach-Island Grove PSW in the North Gwillimbury Forest.
The Maple Lake Estates Loophole is contrary to the intent of the Conservation Authorities Act and the LSRCA’s Ontario Regulation 179/06.  It is also contrary to the mission of the LSRCA, namely, the protection of Lake Simcoe and its watershed.
According to a report prepared by for the North Gwillimbury Forest Alliance by its planning consultant, Anthony Usher, MCIP, RPP, the Maple Lake Estates Loophole:
•    Is not required or supported by the Conservation Authorities Act or the LSRCA’s Ontario Regulation 179/06;
•    Is not supported by Conservation Ontario’s Guidelines; and
•    Is not required or supported by the Ministry of Natural Resources’Policies and Procedures.
Furthermore, according to Mr. Usher, none of the LSRCA’s five neighbouring conservation authorities provide automatic approval for subdivisions to be built within PSWs.
On May 13, 2013 the David Suzuki Foundation, Ontario Nature, Environmental Defence, the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition, Aware Simcoe and the North Gwillimbury Forest Alliance wrote to the LSRCA and asked it to repeal the Maple Lake Estates Loophole. 
At its May 24th meeting the LSRCA board of directors asked its staff to prepare a report with respect to our request.  Unfortunately, no staff report with respect to the Maple Lake Estates Loophole was provided to the LSRCA board at its June or July meetings.  And it appears that no report has been prepared for the LSRCA’s September 27th board meeting.
We need your help to persuade the LSRCA board to repeal the Maple Lake Estates Loophole at its September 27th board meeting. Please contact the LSRCA board members and ask them to repeal the Maple Lake Estates Loophole now.  Please click here to send them an email message now.
Please join me at 9 a.m. on Friday, September 27th when I make my deputation to the LSRCA Board of Directors meeting and ask them to repeal the Maple Lake Estates Loophole.  (Click here for location.)
Thank you,
Jack Gibbons
Chair, North Gwillimbury Forest Alliance
info@savengforest.org