Ottawa Forests & Greenspace

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Urban Boundary OMB Decision

 

URBAN BOUNDARY OMB DECISION /
DÉCISION DE LA CAMO CONCERNANT LES LIMITES URBAINES

Chair Parent briefed the committee on the recent decision by the Ontario Municipal Board to expand the urban boundary by 850 hectares. She indicated that OFGAC should be involved in the consultation process going forward to determine which lands will be included in the expansion.

Moved by H. Hamilton

WHEREAS the Ontario Municipal Board ruled on Friday June 3rd that the City of Ottawa must expand its urban boundary by 850 hectares;

WHEREAS this OMB ruling overturned the decision of City of Ottawa Council, a duly elected municipal council, which had decided to maintain the current urban boundary on February 24th, 2010 and on January 26th, 2011;

WHEREAS the Mayor and Council reconfirmed their commitment to the approved urban boundary in early 2011, which the Ottawa Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee (OFGAC) strongly supported;

WHEREAS expanding the urban boundary will result in the destruction of greenspaces, wetlands and forest cover, increasing the loss of the tree canopy and diminishing the eco-services that it provides, as well as inflicting severe and irreversible damage to wildlife habitat, biodiversity, environmentally sensitive areas, and green corridor linkages;

WHEREAS expanding the current urban boundary encourages urban sprawl and costs taxpayers greatly as the city grows outward and must incur the cost for more roads and other infrastructure;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the OFGAC encourages Council to request the Premier and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to begin a process of restructuring/reforming the OMB to ensure that such decisions by that body as were taken in this instance are not able to occur again, and that decisions of elected municipal councils on issues related to development and their Official Plans are fully respected. Part of this restructuring would include a more transparent and equitable appeal process.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the OFGAC recommends that Council work through the Planning Committee to direct staff to consult (prior to the July 4th consideration by Planning Committee) with the public and key stakeholders, including the Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee, on decisions about which lands will be included in the 850ha to be opened for development, in order to minimize environmental impacts and loss of the City’s greenspaces, wetlands, forests, biodiversity and natural green linkages. (See attached report from OFGAC, presented to Planning Committee in 2009, regarding details on the 850 ha labeled as Gross developable residential hectares by City staff, which are still applicable today.)

CARRIED

Action:      Committee Coordinator to prepare a memo for distribution to members of the Planning Committee and Council for consideration.

Related Minutes: http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/a-ofac/2011/06-27/minutes6.htm

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