Georgina alliance wants LSRCA to close ‘loophole’

By Heidi Riedner Georgina Advocate Sep 26, 2013
A “loophole” in the LSRCA’s development policy needs immediate repeal to protect provincially significant wetlands in Georgina, according to the North Gwillimbury Forest Alliance.

The Maple Lake Estates loophole provides automatic approval for development in registered plans of subdivision that are within provincially significant wetlands without regard to their adverse ecological impacts for Lake Simcoe and its watershed, says Alliance chairperson Jack Gibbons, who will make a deputation to the LSRCA board tomorrow.
The Alliance has waged an ongoing battle to stop a development on a 494-acre parcel of land that includes designated wetlands in the north end of Keswick, despite the fact the registered plans come with dozens of planning approvals.
But the Maple Lakes Estate lands, which may be the site of a 1,000-plus subdivision if developers get their way, is a landmark test case of property rights being tested under new environmental policies, says Mr. Gibbons.
An outstanding problem, however, is the LSRCA’s own regulations under its development policy that are contrary to the intent of the Conservation Authorities Act and its own mission of protecting Lake Simcoe and its watershed, says Mr. Gibbons.
He is taking his request to the board Friday because there has been no action in response to a letter sent to LSRCA chairperson, Georgina Mayor Rob Grossi, May 13.
Signed by environmental heavy hitters including The David Suzuki Foundation, Environmental Defence, Ontario Nature, the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition and Aware Simcoe, the letter urged the LSRCA to “put an end to automatic approvals for outdated development plans” under what is called a Section 28 permit.
This ‘loophole’ would provide Metrus Developments with automatic approval to proceed with a 1,073-unit mobile home park in the North Gwillimbury Forest, says Mr. Gibbons. 
None of the LSRCA’s five neighbouring authorities provide automatic approval for subdivisions to be built within provincially significant wetlands, the Alliance says.
Correspondence from the Alliance was circulated to the board in May, confirmed Kristen Yemm of the LSRCA. The information was referred to staff and a report will be provided to the board Oct. 25.