Tay Valley Township Raises Concerns About the Proposed 2023 Provincial Planning Statement

Tay Valley Township Council is raising concerns with the Province about the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s proposal for a new provincial-wide plan to guide land use planning and shape communities in Ontario. 

“The removal of protection for the rural landscape and the introduction of policies to promote sprawl are the most troubling for the Township”, Rob Rainer, Reeve of Tay Valley Township stated. “The Township also agrees with Ontario farming organizations that prime agricultural land is not the place for multiple severances.”

Released in April 2023, with a focus on housing and infrastructure, and updated on June 6, 2023, to add direction on Natural Heritage, the new plan merges the 2019 Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe with the 2020 Provincial Policy Statement. In the merger of the two documents, wording protecting rural landscapes and requiring comprehensive reviews of settlement area expansion was removed.

“Additional costs will also fall on the Township if this plan is adopted by the province”, Fred Dobbie, Deputy Reeve pointed out. “Costs for watershed studies, inefficient low density housing, wetland identification, and Indigenous consultation are being downloaded by the province.”

A Township staff report to Council identified further areas of concern including the increased climate change impacts of sprawl-type development, the removal of habitat of species at risk from the definition of Natural heritage features and areas, and the superficial approach to Indigenous consultation without any provision of funds to municipalities to engage in such consultation.

“Replacing the goal of affordable housing, which is rental or home ownership that costs no more than 30% of a person’s income, with encouragement to provide a range of housing options is a step backward for our residents”, Rainer pointed out. “The province’s definition of attainable housing as 80% of market prices is out of reach for more than half of the residents in Lanark County according to a study conducted in 2022 by WSP Global Inc.”

To comment on the 2023 PPS (which still contains the provisions for multiple dwellings on multiple lots on agricultural lands, and which omits critical content concerning Natural Heritage), visit  https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6813 before the August 4, 2023 deadline.

Background:   
Report #PD-2023-11
Letter to Minister Clark