Newmarket
September 06, 2008 10:01 PM
OMB battle
Amanda Persico
Newmarket is defending its portion of the Oak Ridges Moraine.
And Tuesday, it’s your turn.
An Ontario Municipal Board hearing is under way until the end of the month to decide if a large residential development should be built on the town’s only sliver of the environmentally sensitive moraine.
In two days, however, residents will be permitted to speak in front of OMB members and can submit a written copy of concerns.
“When are we gonna take a stand?” Newmarket resident Tom Janes asked, encouraging residents to show up and speak out against roads and homes being built on the protected area.
“There are too many risks for what reward?” Mr. Janes said.
The battle between developer Mademont Investment Ltd. and the town has, so far, become a war of words, centred around water flow arguments; an environment versus legal language session.
“The big issue is it sets a precedent for my daughter’s generation,” Mr. Janes said. “But the town can be overridden because of wording.”
Mademont appealed to the OMB in the spring after Newmarket council denied its application to build 448 homes on the east side of Bathurst Street, south of Mulock Drive, on 25.6-hectares of protected forests and creeks.
“I don’t call myself a passionate environmentalist,” said Mr. Janes, a teacher and resident of the Coventry Hill Trail area.
“But there could be potential damage the Oak Ridges Moraine.”
Moraine protection was incorporated into the town’s 1996 official plan.
However, in 2001, the province’s moraine conservation plan was introduced, which protects the landscape and prevails over municipal official plans.
The town redefined its official plan and sought a higher level of protection for the area, which was approved by the province.
“This is the frustrating part,” said Councillor Dennis Ramsarran, whose ward encompasses the area.
“We’ve taken all the necessary steps to protect these lands,” he said, adding council voted unanimously against the proposal.
“This is not a battle within the municipality or between municipal staff,” Mr. Ramsarran said.
“It’s up to the province, now. The voice of the citizens matter.
“The louder the voice, the stronger the case.”
There are no plans to allot sewage capacity, water supply or roadways to the disputed area.
The OMB hearing is expected to continue for the next 15 days at town hall.
Experts brought inDuring the first half of the hearing, which started Aug. 25, Mademont introduced experts — a hydrologist, environmental heritage consultant and former town planner — to argue development would be within the scope of the Oak Ridges Moraine Act, so long as water mitigation processes are put in place, such as a reservoir plan to bring water back into the moraine.
The town and region are expected to bring in experts over the next few days to speak on water issues, with closing arguments expected Sept. 12.
Mr. Janes and other residents have started a grassroots group speaking out against the neighbouring development.
The first phase of the hearing deals with Newmarket’s official plan to determine if development is allowed and if the plan should be amended.
Phase 1 of the hearing discusses water flow, water systems and development impact with an immense level of detail, Mademont representative Chris Barnett said.
“If the (official plan) test does not satisfy the board, then we go home,” he said.
The second phase deals with the specific requirements of development and if the official plan can be amended to accommodate development.
Speak out:
- Go to a public session Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. at Newmarket council chambers at 395 Mulock Dr.
- Write a letter to the editor. E-mail tmcfadden@yrmg.com