Transitional Development: Just When You thought it was Saved …

The Oak Ridges Moraine is a landform unique to southern Ontario. One of the province’s largest Moraines, it is highly valued as wild habitat for many plants and animals, as a source of recreation for the community and for the integral role it plays in storing and purifying drinking water. The Moraine’s importance was legally recognized by moraine-specific legislation in 2001 followed by the release of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan in 2002. This legislation was intended to designate and protect the ecological and hydrological integrity of the Moraine.

Ten years after the establishment of this landmark Plan, effective implementation has been threatened by development applications that were in process prior to the protection plan.

Transitional applications, i.e., development applications that pre-date the Plan can proceed regardless if they are a “permitted use” under the Plan or not. While they may be subject to some of the policies of the Plan the reality is that most are eventually approved and built out regardless of where, what kind of development or how much community opposition they generate.

There are a number of reasons why transitional applications are of concern. The first and most obvious is the impact that new development may have on the ecology and hydrology of the Moraine. In some areas across the Moraine data is showing that stream conditions have fallen well below preferred standards for fish community health and benthic community health, with elevated phosphorous loading and E. Coli levels. Further development in these areas will inevitably increase the strain on their Moraine-based water systems. Yet we still see transitional applications move forward on the Moraine today. For example the Ontario Municipal Board recently approved a transitional application for a golf course and residential plan of subdivision in Countryside and Natural Linkage Areas of the Moraine in the Town of Aurora. Local community and environmental organizations were all opposed to this application citing concerns for the area’s hydrological features and functions and wonder how this type of activity can continue to happen on a ‘protected’ landscape.

The other reasons of concern involve the impact that these ‘transitional’ developments have on the community. Many Moraine residents have embraced their role as land stewards and actively care for their land with its environmental protection and conservation taking high priority. When these land stewards see a new development pop up in their community there is confusion and mistrust about the ability of the legislation to protect the Moraine. We believe that having a set ‘sunset’ date by which all transitional applications must be processed will continue to build a community of Moraine stewards and reinstate public trust about provincial intent to protect Ontario’s natural spaces.

Next: The Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation >