Proposed Draft Regional Official Plan Amendment - ROPA 21 –

Natural Heritage, Agriculture, Air Quality and Integrated Waste

Management

Arvin PrasadDirector, Planning Policy & Research

April 23, 2009

• ROP developed in 1996

• Planning Act requires consideration of review every 5 years

• Regional Official Plan Strategic Update in 2001

• New Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) approvedin 2005 – requires consistency

• Places to Grow approved in 2006 - requires conformity

• Bill 51 – introduced sustainability as a matterof provincial interest

Regional Official Plan – Current Context

Agriculture

Planning Tools/Updates &

Transportation

Schedules

Integrated

Waste

Management

Employment Lands

Regional Housing Strategy

Energy

Water Resources

Natural Heritage

GreenbeltConformity

Transportation

Monitoring

Air Quality

Consultation,

Communication

& Engagement

Managing

Growth

Sustainability

ROPA 20

ROPA 21

ROPA 22

ROPA 23

ROPA 24

Future Amendment

ROPA 25

ROPA 21 – Policy Drivers

Key Trends

Sustainability

Natural Heritage

• Biodiversity Loss• Loss and Fragmentation of Habitat• Declines in Species at Risk in the GTA and Ontario-wide• Landowner Stewardship

Air Quality• Human Health Impacts • Smog Alerts• Greenhouse Gas Emissions• Traffic Congestion• Energy Use and Generation• Transboundary Pollution• Climate Change

Integrated Waste Management

• Sustainable Procurement• Improving Multi-Residential Diversion• IC&I and C&D Diversion• Energy from Waste• Source Reduction and Reuse

Agriculture

• Loss and Fragmentation of Agricultural Land• Diversification and Economic Viability of Farming

Municipal Initiatives Related to ROPA 21

• City of Brampton Official Plan (2006) – Natural Heritage Policies

• City of Brampton Environmental Management Master Plan • City of Mississauga Official Plan Review• City of Mississauga Natural Areas Survey• Town of Caledon Provincial Policy Conformity (PPC)• Town of Caledon Green Development Program• Town of Caledon Rural and Agricultural Policy Amendment

(OPA 179)

Regional Initiatives Related to ROPA 21�Conservation Authority Funded Studies

• Watershed Plans• Natural Heritage System Modelling Studies• Natural Areas Inventory (Underway)• Urban Forest Canopy Study (Underway)

�Greenlands Securement Project�Peel Agricultural Advisory Working Group� ‘Grown in Peel’ Initiative�Clean Air Strategy �Long Term Waste Management Strategy�Waste management education and outreach

ROPA 21 Process

2007 2008

Work Plan Approved

Focus Area Start-up

Background Research and Discussion Papers

Consultation

Work Plan Approved for 15

Focus Areas

Scope of Work Developed Based on Conformity with

Provincial Initiatives

• Significant Woodlands and Significant Wildlife Habitat Study• Natural Heritage Discussion Paper• Agriculture Discussion Paper• Air Quality Discussion Paper

• Air Quality Stakeholder Workshop

• Environment Workshop

Fall 2008

Significant Woodlands and Significant Wildlife

Habitat Study• Preliminary Criteria Workshop – April 2008• Recommended Criteria Workshop –June 2008

ROPA 21 Process

2009

ConsultationPublic

Meeting

ROPA

AdoptionOpen Houses Provincial ApprovalDraft ROPAs

Integrated Waste Management Discussion Paper and

Workshop

Open Houses (April 2009)• Caledon• Brampton• Mississauga

Public Meeting (April 23, 2009)

ROPA 21 – Policies developed through sustainability framework

• ROPA 21 Policies

• Natural Heritage

• Agriculture

• Air Quality

• Integrated Waste Management

SocietySociety

CultureCulture

EconomyEconomy

EnvironmentEnvironment

SUSTAINABILITYSUSTAINABILITY

Natural Heritage – PPS Requirements• No development and site alteration in:

• Significant habitat of endangered and threatened species

• Significant wetlands (including coastal wetlands)

• No development and site alteration unless it can be demonstrated that there are no negative impacts in:

• significant woodlands

• significant valleylands

• significant wildlife habitat

• significant areas of natural and scientific interest

Natural Heritage - Mapping Updates

• Environmentally Sensitive or Significant Areas

• Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest

• Escarpment Natural Areas

• Core wetlands (provincially significant wetlands)

Natural Heritage – Significant Woodlands• Revised definition

• Revised criteria and thresholds

• Draft policies classify woodlands into Core (Regionally significant), NAC and PNAC (locally significant) categories

Cultural WoodlandsCultural SavannahsAll other woodlands >0.5 ha

Size•Rural System 4 to 16 ha•Urban System 2 to 4 haAgeLinkageProximitySurface WaterSignificant Species

Size•Rural System > 16 ha•Urban System > 4 haAgeSignificant Species

Potential Natural Area and Corridor (PNAC)

Natural Area and Corridor (NAC)

Core

Natural Heritage – Significant Valleylands• Revised definition

• Revised criteria

� Main branches

� Major tributaries

� Other tributaries that:

• contain aquatic endangered and threatened species; or

• cross municipal boundaries and link to other Core Areas of the Greenlands System.

• Draft policies classify valleylands into Core (Regionally significant), NAC and PNAC (locally significant) categories

Natural Heritage – Significant Wildlife Habitat

• New definition

• Introduces criteria based on Provincial guidelines but tailored to Regional and local conditions

• Significant wildlife habitat will not be identified as “Regionally significant” Core Areas

• Identification and protection through area municipal official plans

Natural Heritage – Greenlands Management

• Revised policy for greenlands securement:

� Policy

� Stewardship

� Monitoring

� Land Acquisition

• Incentives for Ecological Goods & Services

• Invasive species management

Natural Heritage – Natural Heritage Systems Planning

• Direction to develop Regional Greenlands Strategy:

� Identification of Natural Heritage System

� Public engagement and consultation

� Policy and program options

� Tools, Resources and Funding

• Addresses future natural heritage planning needs

INSERT SCHEDULE A

Agriculture – Policy Objectives

• Manage agricultural resources in a sustainable manner

• Protect the Prime Agricultural Area, farmers’ wellbeing and the economy

• Prevent loss and fragmentation of the agricultural land base

• Support farm diversification

Agriculture - Opportunities

• Farm Diversification• Employment potential and cultural

heritage • Environmental stewardship, agri-

tainment, eco-tourism • Promoting health and nutrition• Proximity to large urban market

• Protecting prime agricultural lands • Maintaining financial viability• Minimize rural-urban land use conflicts• Declining farm number, size and

revenue• Attracting young farmers into the

industry

Agriculture - Challenges

• Provide strategic policy direction• Recognize contribution to the

economy • Minimize land use conflicts in

favour of agriculture • Provide for diversity and

innovation• Consider incentives that

enhance farming

Agriculture – Policy Focus

• Encourage farming within urban boundary for as long as practical

• Permit new and the expansion of existing agricultural operations and agriculture-related uses

• Encourage environmental stewardship • Support the business of agriculture and the

agri-food sector• Promote niche markets and community

gardens

Agriculture – Draft Policies

• Greater flexibility for secondary or agriculture-related uses

• Production of ethnic and market garden produce

Agriculture – Draft Policies (Cont.)

Investigate with stakeholders where appropriate:

• Incentives for ecological goods and services

• Preferential land taxation to continue farming

Air Quality and Health

The quality of our air can affect every Ontarian

Mortality

Hospital

Admissions

Emergency Room

Visits

Physician Office Visits

Medication Use

Impaired Pulmonary Function

Subclinical (subtle) Effects

Proportion of Population Affected

Severity of Effect

Air Quality in Peel• In general, air quality in Brampton and Caledon is

relatively better than air quality in Mississauga, which is similar to air quality in Oakville.

• Air quality in Peel Region is better than air quality in downtown Toronto and Hamilton but ozone and fine particulate matter are a concern as they continue to be at or above the Canada Wide Standards.

• Air contaminants higher near major roadways

Communities and Clean Air Planning

Public Outreach/Awareness

Building on Regional Air Quality Improvement Activities

Green Fleets

Corporate

Partnerships

Waste and Water

Energy Efficiency

Goal:To create healthier and sustainable communities by improving local air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Objectives:• To conform with Provincial legislation• To improve local air quality and reduce greenhouse gas

emissions• To promote sustainable development and land use

patterns which address public health, energy conservation and environmental concerns

• To support the sustainability objectives of the ROP

Air Quality Goals and Objectives

• Develop tools to assess air quality implications of development

• Develop a multi-stakeholder air quality management plan

• Raise awareness through partnerships

• Develop outreach programs to promote air quality and reduce air pollution

Draft Air Quality Policies

Draft Air Quality Policies• Advocate for health protective emissions standards for

vehicles, industries and energy producing facilities

• Establish corporate targets for greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution reductions

• Locate residential development and sensitive land uses an adequate distance from sources of harmful emissions

• Monitor and model air quality

The Integrated Waste Management (IWM) Focus Area

• Complements the Long Term Waste Management Strategy (LTWMS)

• Waste the Region collects and manages:– Residential– 5 BIA’s, schools, municipal facilities

• IWM addresses elements not in the LTWMS:• Industrial, Commercial, & Institutional waste (IC&I)

• Construction & Demolition waste (C&D)• Municipal collaboration opportunities

Key Reduction and Reuse Policies

• For Region of Peel projects:• Specifications for using materials

from waste diversion programs

• Region purchases significant amount of goods

• Sustainable markets for recyclables and compost

• For developers and contractors:

• Use materials from waste diversion programs for construction projects

Key Energy from Waste and Intensification Policies

• Ensure resources are recovered from the waste stream, e.g. energy from waste

• New technology for managing waste• Encouraging waste diversion:

• Consider incentives in multi-residential properties

• New development to address the Region’s waste collection design standards

• For all C&D projects:� Require diversion/reuse of materials

• For Region of Peel C&D projects:� Develop procurement specifications� Maximize diversion/reuse from other C&D projects

Key Construction & Demolition (C&D) Policies

Response to CirculationComments Received� York Region

� County of Simcoe

� Town of New Tecumseth

� Niagara Escarpment Commission

� Credit Valley Conservation

� Toronto and Region Conservation

� Conservation Halton

� RAMA First Nation

� Peel District School Board

� Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board

� Peel Region Police

� TransCanada Pipelines

� Peel Federation of Agriculture (PFA)

� Individual Residents/General Public (5)

• Review comments received on the proposed amendment

• Revise amendment taking into consideration comments received

• Report back to Regional Council in Fall 2009

• Refer to website for regular updates at www.peelregion.ca/officialplan

Next Steps