HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSD-008-14 Clarftwo REPORT
PLANNING SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Date: January 20, 2014 Resolution#: _ 0"1 By-law#:
Report#: PSD-008-14 File#: PLN 17.2
Subject: CONSERVATION ONTARIO WHITEPAPER "WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
FUTURES FOR ONTARIO" AND TORONTO REGION CONSERVATION
AUTHORITY DRAFT "LIVING CITY POLICIES"
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report PSD-008-14 be received; and
2. THAT Council's decision and a copy of Report PSD-008-14 be forwarded to the Region
of Durham, the City of Pickering, the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, the
Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, the Kawartha Region Conservation
Authority, and the Ottonabee Region Conservation Authority.
Submitted by: Reviewed by:
Da d rome, MCIP, RPP Franklin Wu,
Director of Planning Services Chief Administrative Officer
JAS/FL/df
10 January 2014
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1 C 3A6 T 905-623-3379
REPORT NO.: PSD-008-14 PAGE 2
1. PURPOSE OF REPORT
1.1 On September 30, 2013, Council considered a letter from the City of Pickering to the
Toronto Region Conservation Authority regarding Conservation Ontario's Whitepaper
"Watershed Management Futures for Ontario" and Toronto Region Conservation
Authority's draft "Living City Policies". Council resolved (Resolution # C-308-13
attached) to refer the letter to staff for a report. This staff report has been prepared in
response to that direction.
2. WATERSHED MANAGEMENT FUTURES FOR ONTARIO
2.1 Conservation Ontario, the organization that collectively represents the Province's 36
Conservation Authorities, released the "Watershed Management Futures for Ontario"
Whitepaper in October 2012. The Whitepaper discusses the various environmental
challenges facing southern Ontario and the complex regulatory maze that is not always
effective in dealing with them. Conservation Ontario argues that, given current
economic constraints, a discussion between Conservation Authorities and the Province
on options for a renewed watershed management partnership and a more efficient
allocation of resources at the provincial and local levels is necessary.
2.2 Conservation Ontario believes that Integrated Watershed Management, which manages
human activities and natural resources on a watershed basis, would provide an effective
and efficient framework for integrating provincial and federal policy and science into
local decision-making. The Whitepaper states that, due to their local expertise and
resources, as well as existing agreements with provincial ministries (e.g. Regulatory
Flood, Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network), Conservation Authorities are best
suited to implement IWM across southern Ontario.
2.3 The Whitepaper acknowledges that, in order to accomplish the effective implementation
of IWM, a number of fundamental and inter-related issues need to be addressed. These
include refining the Conservation Authority mandate and governance model, and
developing a sustainable funding formula. A refined mandate, for example, would help ,
legitimize the role of Conservation Authorities in representing provincial interests in the
protection of natural heritage systems through the land use planning process.
2.4 Conservation Ontario and various provincial ministries have initiated discussions on the
recommendations outlined in the Whitepaper. It is expected that municipalities will be
invited to participate at a later date should these preliminary discussions prove to be
productive.
3. TRCA'S LIVING CITY POLICIES
3.1 TRCA released the draft "Living City Policies for Planning and Development in the
Watersheds of the TRCX in January 2013. The purpose of the Living City policies is to
guide the TRCA in implementing its regulatory and planning responsibilities for the next
REPORT NO.: PSD-008-14 PAGE 3
decade. These include the authority under the Conservation Authorities Act to regulate
alterations to watercourses, delegated Provincial Interest under the Provincial Policy
Statement regarding flood and erosion hazards, and to provide comments and advice to
municipalities on watershed management and natural heritage related to municipal
decisions on planning policy and development applications.
3.2 In addition to its regulatory responsibilities, the Living City document also defines
Toronto Region Conservation Authority's mission as working with its partners to ensure
that the communities within its jurisdiction are "built on a natural foundation of healthy
rivers and shorelines, greenspace and biodiversity, and sustainable communities". It
recognizes that Toronto Region Conservation Authority must work with the provincial
government and its member municipalities in order to implement sustainability since no
single organization possesses the necessary mandate, resources or expertise.
3.3 The Living City document provides broad guidance and policies on how sustainable
communities can be achieved. For example, these include taking an adaptive approach
to watershed management to address climate change and the cumulative impacts of
development, and encouraging municipalities to incorporate sustainable energy
measures into planning documents and integrate trail systems into municipal
transportation plans.
4. COMMENTS
4.1 Clarington encompasses parts of four Conservation Authorities - Central Lake Ontario,
Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, Kawartha Region Conservation Authority
and Ottonabee Region Conservation Authority. As is common practice for Clarington,
the Conservation Authorities, primarily Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority and
Ganaraska, provide technical advice to the Municipality on natural heritage and water
resource planning and protection in the development of Official Plan policies, as well as
providing comments on development applications. The proposal by Conservation
Ontario to redefine and confirm the important role of Conservation Authorities in
protecting the Province's natural heritage has merit, although issues such as the
redistribution of responsibilities and a stable funding formula for Conservation
Authorities will need to be resolved.
4.2 Toronto Region Conservation Authority's "Living City" document highlights the
significance of the interface between natural heritage planning and land use planning,
and notes the importance of sustainable communities to not only the protection of local
natural heritage features and functions, but also the contribution of local land use
decisions to addressing global environmental challenges such as climate change. Both
Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority and Ganaraska Region Conservation
Authority have documents similar to Toronto Region Conservation Authority's "Living
City" document.
4.3 Municipal Staff and Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority and Central Lake Ontario
Conservation Authority staff have jointly worked on the natural heritage system as
presented in the Natural Heritage Systems Discussion Paper for the Official Plan
REPORT NO.: PSD-008-14 PAGE 4
existing Clarington Official Plan, through its three key principles of sustainable
development, healthy communities, and growth management. These principles will be
strengthened as a result of the Official Plan Review.
5. CONCURRENCE - Not applicable
6. CONCLUSION
6.1 Staff will continue to monitor the discussions between Conservation Ontario and the
provincial government regarding redefining the mandate of Conservation Authorities.
Staff will also continue to work with our Conservation Authority partners to ensure that
sustainable development, healthy communities, and growth management remain as the
foundation to land use planning decisions in Clarington.
CONFORMITY WITH STRATEGIC PLAN — Not Applicable
Staff Contact: Janice Szwarz
Attachments:
Attachment 1 — Resolution #C-308-13
List of interested parties to be notified of Council's decision:
Region of Durham
City of Pickering
Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority
Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority
Kawartha Region Conservation Authority
Ottonabee Region Conservation Authority
Attachment 1
7o Report PSD=008-14
I.eadteg the j�'ay
OCT 0 8 2013
MUNIGIPALIT pE NLARINGf 9N MEM00"'
PLANNING
TO: David Crome, Director of Planning Services
FROM: Patti L. Barrie, Municipal Clerk
DATE: October 4, 2013
RE: THE DRAFT"LIVING CITY POLICIES",TORONTO AND REGION
CONSERVATION AUTHORITY AND "WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
FUTURES FOR ONTARIO", CONSERVATION ONTARIO WHITEPAPER
FILE NO.: C11.GE/E06.GE
At a meeting held on September 30, 2013, Council considered and referred for report
correspondence from the City of Pickering regarding the above matter. A copy of the
correspondence was forwarded to you earlier, however, if you require another copy,
please a ' e.
Patti Barrie
PLB/kb
Council Meeting Minutes - 12- September 30, 2013
1 -7 Amy Terrill, Vice President Public Affairs, Music Canada, advising Music
Canada represents the major music companies and artists in Canada and
works directly with recording studios, live music venues and music
festivals, including Boots and Hearts; indicating that Boots and Hearts is a
unique music festival in Ontario but one of many that contribute to the
economic, social and cultural benefits live music brings to Ontario; advising
that the Province has identified music as a key economic sector and has
announced a coordinated strategy to market Ontario as one of the best
destinations for live music in the world; indicating that music festivals pump
millions of dollars into their local economies and that Boots and Hearts is a
huge opportunity for Clarington as its host community; and, encouraging
the Municipality to work with Republic Live in order to maximize the
benefits of the festival and to address any concerns that may arise.
1 -9 Darlene Brown, Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clarington,
providing an update of activities which took place during the yearlong
celebration marking 100 years of mentoring in Canada and revealing
research findings in support of mentoring with respect to student success,
civic engagement and dealing with bullying.
1 - 10 Roger Saunders, Director, Strategic Planning, Regional Municipality of
Durham,forwarding a copy of Report No. 2013-P-55 of the Commissioner
of Planning and Economic Development regarding the National Household
Survey (2011)--Mobility, Education, and Labour Force.
1 - 13 D. Bowen, Regional Clerk/Director of Legislative Services, Regional
Municipality of Durham, advising Council that on September 18,2013,
Regional Council adopted the following resolution pertaining to Quarterly
Report on Planning Activities:
"a) THAT Report 42013-P-50 of the Commissioner of Planning and
Economic Development be received for information; and
b) THAT a copy of Report#2013-P-50 be forwarded to all Durham Area
Municipalities, Durham Regional Police Service, and Durham
Emergency Medical Services for information."
1 - 12 Debbie Shields, City Clerk, City of Pickering,writing to the Toronto and
Region Conservation Authority, advising that on September 16, 2013, the
City of Pickering adopted the following resolution pertaining to
Conservation Policies: The Draft"Living City Policies",Toronto and
Region Conservation Authority and 'Watershed Management Futures for
Ontario", Conservation Ontario Whitepaper:
Council Meeting Minutes - 13- September 30, 2013
"1.THAT Report PLN 15-13 of the Director, City Development regarding
the draft"Living City Policies"of the Toronto and Region Conservation
Authority and the"Watershed Management Futures for Ontario",a
Whitepaper by Conservation Ontario,be received;
2. THAT City Staff comments on the draft"Living City Policies"of Toronto
and Region Conservation Authority,as set out in Appendix I to Report
PLD 15-13, be endorsed,and Toronto and Region Conservation
Authority be requested to reflect the comments in the final"Living City
Policies"and that TRCA be'requested to respond in writing to the City
of Pickering with respect to these matters;
3. THAT Pickering Council advise Conservation Ontario and the Ministers
of Natural Resources, Environment, Municipal Affairs and Housing,
Infrastructure,and Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs,that the City of
Pickering does not support:
a) transfer of ownership of flood control infrastructure to
municipalities from Conservation Authorities;and
b) delegation of the authority for policy interpretation for natural
heritage protections under the Planning Act to Conservation
Authorities from municipalities;
4. THAT Pickering Council request that area municipalities be invited to
participate in the discussions about a new funding formula for
Conservation Authorities that may have direct impacts on municipal
interests; and
5. FURTHER, THAT copies of Report Number PLN 15-13 be forwarded
to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, the Region of
Durham, other Durham Region local municipalities,the Association of
Municipalities of Ontario, Conservation Ontario and the Ministers of
Natural Resources, Environment, Municipal Affairs and Housing,
Infrastructure, and Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs"
Resolution#C-308-13
Moved by Councillor Neal, seconded by Councillor Traill
THAT Correspondence Item I — 12 from Debbie Shields, City Clerk, City of
Pickering, with respect to Conservation Policies: The Draft"Living City Policies',
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and"Watershed Management Futures
for Ontario", Conservation Ontario Whitepaper, be referred to staff for a report.
"CARRIED"