The Province is reviewing 4 important plans:  Greenbelt Plan, Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, Niagara Escarpment and the Growth Plan For Golden Horseshoe.  When created intent was to manage growth, support economic development and protect the natural environment.  The intent of the review is to determine how the plans could be improved.  It is evident that the Province is wanting to hear from the public.  If you are concerned about the natural environment I believe it is essential that you participate as the arguments for expanding urban boundaries for big box stores, giving priority to infrastructure, maintaining or even increasing the loopholes which threaten water quality will be strong.

Attend a Town Hall Meeting.  There are numerous ones being held through to the end of April.  For a complete listing see here.  The closest ones to King are as follows:

Caledon   Thursday, March 26 at Royal Ambassador Centre, 15430 Innis Lake Road

Aurora  Monday, April 13 at ESC Renaissance School, 700 Bloomington Road

For both the Open House is 6-7PM; meeting is 7-9

The Province has developed a booklet (“Our Region/Our Community/Our Home”) for Review.  I have not read all of it yet but I intend to do so as it is an excellent summary of the 4 plans’ intent and it presents some provocative questions to stimulate the thinking about how they could be modified.

Submit comments:  there are numerous ways to submit written feedback.

• e-mail to landuseplanningreview@ontario.ca
• the Ontario Environmental Registry at www.ontario.ca/ebr (Registry #012-3256)
• mail to
  Land Use Planning Review
  Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
  Ontario Growth Secretariat
  777 Bay Street, Suite 425 (4th floor)
  Toronto, ON M5G 2E5

It would be wonderful if readers would submit comments and ideas about how these plans could be enhanced.    Note:  As always I will post comments which do not represent my own views.