Update from Cliff Bennett, October 7, 2004
Dear MVFN members living in Mississippi Mills,
For almost three years now, I have participated on the steering committee for the creation of the Community Official Plan (COP) for the amalgamated town of Mississippi Mills. As a part of this process, I conducted a questionnaire at two regular MVFN meetings in the fall of 2001, asking what you felt the main issues were. Your answer was to
protect the natural environment,
protection of our groundwater and
protection of locally significant wetlands.
I have met with several groups of MVFN members and special advisors to flesh out wording on the above issues and have presented the results to the COP process. The first draft of the COP is now completed and is available for your perusal. You can get a copy from the municipal centre. Also, the local libraries have one and I think it is now on the town website (www.mississippimills.ca). Please get one, read it and pass me back your thoughts.
Meanwhile, here is my report on the draft and how successful I was in getting our issues recognized.
Coming up in October and November is a series of public input sessions on the new COP. You are most welcome to attend. The most important public input session for MVFN members is the one on Environment and Ground Water, Saturday, October 30, in the Old Almonte Town Hall. Mark it now on your calendar.
After the input sessions are completed, the committee will meet over Dec. Jan. to merge new ideas and corrections into the COP, leading to completion of the final draft which goes to Council for approval and then on to the Ontario Government for its input and approval. Please call me if you have any concerns or questions.
Protection of the Environment
I am pleased to report the Plan states wording for environmental protection in great abundance. The environment holds a whole section (3.1) of its own under Land Use Policies. Right in the first section, 1.1 of the Introduction under purpose of the Plan, words used are……..strengthen the environmental…………..fabric
and “The Plan presents a commitment to sustainable development and………..environmental protection
Entitled Environmental Land Use Policies (3.1), the Plan uses wording as follows “The protection of the environmental features, water resources and ecosystems………..are of central importance to the long term health and prosperity……..” “The challenge…………….is to act so that the integrity of the environment can be preserved………………..”
3.1.1, Goals and Objectives, states clearly “It is a goal of this plan to protect and enhance the quality of the environment and the long-term health of the ecosystem. All other goals should attempt to satisfy the environmental goal” In #10 of objectives, the Plan goes on to say “Establish clear policies……for situations ……..”which do not meet the environmental goals and actions of the Plan.”( I do wonder here whether the “clear policies” will be cast only to meet a way for developers to get around environmental goals of the Plan).
Concerns in this section:
1)The Plan uses many intangible words such as strengthen, commitment, protection, integrity, offer, etc. What do these words mean? How does the municipality measure these? Where are the rules governing the use of these words. The real proof of this and future Council commitment will be found in the Zoning By-Law which will accompany this Plan.
2)The Plan also uses many “weasel” words such as “attempt to”, which makes it too easy for a Council and/or a developer to find a way around environmental concerns.
Protection of our Groundwater
On this issue, we (MVFN) gained much success although several of our points were not included in the COP.
The Provincial Policy Statement states:
2.4.1 The quality and quantity of ground water and surface water and the function of sensitive ground water recharge/discharge area, aquifers and headwaters will be protected or enhanced.
MVFN Recommendations (draft COP details in italics)
Identification and inventory
Protection and Management
Locally Significant Wetlands
Recommendations from Preliminary Issues Report from MVFN.
This report was arrived at through a group meeting with representative from Ducks Unlimited, follow-up requests for comments from group members, Federation of Ontario Naturalists, Canadian Environmental Law Association, OMNR officials and members of MVFN plus research of relevant documents and publications.
Comments below are in italics.
Issue 3.1 statement 1
…………should we protect locally significant wetlands (LSW’s)?
1) It was a unanimous “yes”. MM should establish a policy of precaution-protection until adequate and informed data and science is available to better understand the function and value of wetlands locally and within a watershed context.
We were successful in including this protection in the Draft Plan. However, The Plan fails to take a precaution-protection approach and is only focussed on the present day situation.
2) The group felt we should make the first entry in the OP not too detailed but to build in triggers or flags that would show up in site-specific cases concerning LSW’ s.
A pro-active triggers and flags approach is not included in the Draft Plan.
3) Consultation, connectivity and education should be the main process used in protection of our wetlands.
No mention is made of this policy, especially education.
4) Locally Significant Wetlands (LSW’s) should be identified, through a classification process. The most significant ones should be on an initial list in the OP, with provision for additions at later dates though amendment to the OP.
Provision is made for this through MNR. However, there have been none done so far and cannot therefore be listed in The Plan. There is no mention of the establishment of an inventory of LSW’s in the Draft. Only that, when one is evaluated, it will be added to the Plan through an OP amendment. I will continue to press for a pre-assessment inventory.
5) Most locally significant wetlands (4-7) have already been identified by MNR. These should be our initial list entered in the OP.
Done.
6) Stewardship Council, field naturalists, Ducks Unlimited, local Fish and Game Clubs, landowners and EAC should be involved in the education process.
This should be stated in a LSW education policy.
7) A buffer zone should be mentioned but not defined except in definition section. Buffer requirements should be site specific as each case arises.
This amount of flexibility is not included in the Plan. Only a 30m setback unless this is not practicable.
8 ) At least initially, only permanent LSWs should be considered for listing.
This distinction is not mentioned.
9) Strong recognition of land owners as stewards should be registered in the OP.
Done, many times.
10) References must be made to other relevant Acts i.e.: Drainage, Riparian Rights etc.
Some are, in some places.
11) We should steer clear of the beavers issue and also temporary wetlands.
done.
12) Paramount is recognition of importance of all wetlands in their role of protecting and enhancing the ground water.
Well stated in general policies.
13) Private landowners impacted by enforcement of regulations concerning LSWs should be considered for compensation where applicable
Not mentioned. I shall continue to press for this, especially where a setback takes land out of production.
14) As the natural heritage policy, as set forth in the PPS, allows for varying degrees of protection at the municipal level, MM should take a progressive approach and strive for the Pathfinder Policies level.
Was agreed upon in discussions but is not mentioned in this Draft.
15) As MM is divided almost in half between the Canadian Shield and St.Lawrence/Great Lakes Lowland significant areas, it is the recommendation of this report that the PPS concerning Canadian Shield wetlands be adopted for all of MM.
The Plan arbitrarily states protection will be the non-shield policies, and only in relation to PSW’s. I don’t think the Province will let us get away with that one. As you can see, we recommended Shield protection for all LSW’s.
16) Issues involving LSWs should be discussed with land owner groups on a continuing basis.
Should be included in an education policy section but isn’t.
17) MM must strive for broad public support on wetland policies implementation
Again, part of an education policy, which isn’t there.
General concerns
In general, The Plan seems to only protect and enhance the environmental values of locally significant wetlands in relation to development (3.1.2.1, p.24). How do these wetlands get protected when development is not going on. For example, regular maintenance of roads, private dumping of garbage in the wrong place, spraying chemicals on the land etc.
Another example of this is in 3.1.2.3. where the Draft suggests preserving vegetation along waterways and roadways on in connection to development. There are many other concerns about carss zones along watercourses besides development.
