Wellington County council members see no need to expand Ontario’s Greenbelt and reaffirmed that position on Feb. 25.
The Greenbelt is a permanently-protected area, about 7,300 square kilometres in size (1.8 million acres), consisting of green space, farmland, wetlands, forests and watersheds surrounding the Golden Horseshoe.
Expansion plans currently under consideration would enlarge the Greenbelt in Puslinch and Erin, and establish a new area in the southern part of Guelph-Eramosa.
Arlene Slocombe of Wellington Water Watchers and Lise Burcher, a professor at the University of Guelph, addressed the county’s planning committee on Feb. 11 regarding the proposed Greenbelt expansion. Wellington Water Watchers also hosted a forum for stakeholders on the topic in Puslinch on Feb. 18.
“The province of Ontario has recognized that there are crucial decisions to be made that will govern the health, prosperity and growth of the province for our collective future,” states a submission from Wellington Water Watchers’ Greenbelt Committee to the county planning committee.
“The Crombie Commission report was tasked by the provincial government to provide a framework to accommodate population and employment growth in a more sustainable manner while protecting vital assets such as high-quality farmland, water resources and natural areas.”
A document, Growing the Greenbelt, provided by the delegation to the planning committee states, “Expansion of the Greenbelt will give the stronger protection our critical natural heritage and ground and surface source waters need while helping to direct development where appropriate.”
The document suggests stronger protection is needed specifically for:
– the Orangeville, Paris-Galt and Waterloo moraines, which all overlap Wellington County and are “critical sources of clean drinking water” for thousands of residents;
– urban river valley connections to the Greenbelt, including the Speed and Eramosa rivers, which flow into the Grand River; and
– other key features, including headwaters and significant wetlands such as Luther Marsh.
Councillor Andy Lennox, chair of the county’s planning committee, told council the delegation asked the county to direct staff to work on identifying important water features within Wellington.
“I think they came away surprised,” said Lennox, who also attended the Dec. 18 forum.
Lennox said he feels the group’s members largely “see the Greenbelt expansion as a way to protect water resources.” However, he said, “I didn’t get a strong answer from any of the participants to the question ‘What are we not protecting?’”
Councillor Sean Watters said he was among a half-dozen county councillors at the Feb. 18 gathering, which he described as well attended.
“I think there was a really diverse perspective there in terms of thoughts around the Greenbelt,” Watters said. “My position is not dissimilar to Andy – where are the gaps?”
Watters added, “We all want to protect water resources … I think there needs to be a little more homework. I see it very much as a dialogue.”
Councillor Don MacKay stated, “I think the Water Watchers got a bit of an eye opening … I think they started to realize that there are a lot of other things going on and there are a lot of other stakeholders that have concerns.
“The big thing is communication,” MacKay continued. “It behooves us to communicate with other municipalities to see where we have some mutual agreement on where this should go. I think our stance is, ‘Tell us what the gaps are and what we haven’t got in place.’”
“This is a big deal. This affects a lot,” said councillor Chris White.
He noted one of the concerns expressed by people in the Caledon area, “is not so much about the Greenbelt, but the bureaucracy around it. You end up adding two or three per cent to the taxes just to do the paperwork.”
White said expansion proponents should “put the Greenbelt through that filter and question if it is overly bureaucracy-heavy and expensive.”
White compared some elements of Greenbelt legislation to doing a lot line adjustment, noting “you end up spending $15,000 and you haven’t done anything on the ground.”
Councillor Gary Williamson pointed out many of the people pushing for Greenbelt expansion don’t fully understand the implications and connections with other control measures like the province’s Places to Grow policy statement.
“We keep hearing ‘go up, not out.’ Well, by expanding the Greenbelt you’re going to push more development out to the rural areas and that comes with a cost and who’s going to bear that cost?”
Councillor Doug Breen said, “My greatest concern here is not just cost. It’s a question of control. Do we really want legislation out of Toronto telling us how to develop land in Wellington County?”
Breen added, “All the intentions are honourable, but I would be much more comfortable with a made-in-Wellington solution.”
Watters suggested the county should respond to the province advising officials what they are already doing in terms of protecting resources and “ask what are the gaps?”
Councillor Rob Black pointed out the county already took a position on the issue back in January.
Councillors agreed to reaffirm their position that the county does not see a need for Greenbelt expansion in this area. “I think its important that we put the word out there that we are already doing some things; that the county is committed to protecting those resources that we have in our community,” said Lennox.
