North Pickering Lands Development
Update July 2005
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On July 26, 2005, the Province threatens to pass legislation to protect the agricultural lands in Pickering, an article in the Star reports.
On July 14, 2005, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing held another open house to display more details of the Province’s proposed
development plan. The plan calls for development in Seaton with eventual population target of 60,000 people. They confirmed
the inclusion of the Agricultural Preserve within the Greenbelt thereby keeping it free from development. The province’s plan also
called for some development in the Whitevale area. This open house kicked off a 60 day consultation period to receive public
input. For more information of the Province’s plans and background please see the
Meanwhile, the city released details of the next Draft Amendment to the Pickering Official Plan for a Modified Seaton Plan at a public
meeting on July 26th, 2005. This plan for Seaton calls for a population target of 43,000 in Seaton and 27,800 jobs. The population
estimate by the city is 18,000 by 2011 and 30,000 by 2016. This latest amendment focuses on the Seaton Area only and does not cover
the previously proposed changes to the Agricultural Preserve, including the lands surrounding Altona Road and the hamlet of Cherrywood. One
of the mainly contested changes to the City’s proposal for Seaton is the extension of Whites Road over a new bridge crossing Duffins Creek and
connecting to the 407. Written comments regarding the proposal should be made to the City’s planning department by
August 12, 2005. Details on this report and previous milestones in the City’s growth management study can be reviewed at the
North Pickering Lands Development
Update April / May 2005
As part of a settlement of a lawsuit by developer Silvio De Gasperis and other landowners, the City lifted the agricultural easements (or changed to inhibiting orders) on some of the lands in the Agricultural Preserve. In return, the city got all legal costs covered and money for a park to be created in these lands valued at more than $2 million. The city also stands to gain more (as much as $60 million) if development is eventually allowed. The developer’s next step is to fight the Province to have these lands removed from the Greenbelt area.
In May, Durham Regional Council supported the city’s request to remove the agricultural easements.
Growth Management Study Update
From the A.W.C.A. Annual General Meeting
Monday November 8th, 2004
- Seaton /Growth Management Update: Peter Brightling
Two developments were announced since our last executive meeting:
First, the City of Pickering proposed several amendments to the Pickering Official Plan based on the Growth Management Study. They included changing Seaton from an Urban Study Area designation to specify land uses in different parts, including low and medium density residential and major industrial area. They also changed Cherrywood from Hamlet designation to Urban Study area, as they are now planning for development in that area.
- 70,000 total population with roughly 40,000 in Seaton and 30,000 South-West part of agricultural preserve
- assume lower density on Seaton than provincial plan using similar amount of space (not sure if 1/3 or not)
- 33,000 jobs mostly in the North section along the 407
- City has been criticized for having developers who have a financial stake pay for the study but Dillon consultants were independent and have done many environmentally based studies in the past
- City has been criticized for including Agricultural Preserve in study - developer interest in developing these lands, keep as agricultural in perpetuity vs. less development in Seaton by using some agricultural lands and best land use of both areas
Second, last week the Provincial Government formally announced that the land swap deal that will exchange 1,057 acres of privately owned lands on the Oak Ridges Moraine in Richmond Hill for 1,275 acres of Provincially owned lands in Seaton. The Province still plans to keep two thirds of the Seaton Lands to protect the natural corridor and heritage sites. It does not appear that the Uxbridge part of the swap has been announced yet.
- 45,000 people in Seaton to 60,000 over time including in-filling
- Protect 2/3rds of Seaton
- Keep the agricultural preserve for agricultural and conservation uses
- 25,000 to 30,000 jobs
- Pickering council no longer working with Province
- Address by City Councillor David Pickles
David began by thanking the AWCA for inviting him to speak. He commended us on being one of the few Rate Payers associations in Pickering that have continued to do good work for the community.
He then addressed the membership on the GTAA Plans & the Seaton Land Swap:
GTAA
The Greater Toronto Airport Authority conducted a feasibility study to investigate the need & scope of a potential 'reliever airport' to be built in the Pickering area, with proposed operational timing around 2012.
After completing the feasibility study, a master plan for execution was established. It is scheduled to be released mid November 2004. David believes the report will still recommend an opening date of 2012, but the impact on Pickering may be minimal - e.g. due to cross winds, the flight approach path will more likely be over Ajax than Pickering. Also, the plan was to use the airport for late night courier transit, at undesirable flight times, which would need to be heavily financially subsidized by Pearson to be attractive to couriers. The cost structure may make the airport very unattractive. Further steps (e.g. environmental assessment) still need to take place, which could delay planning even longer.
Seaton Land Swap
David sketched out the area under consideration on the blackboard and then gave his point of view on the activities to date. The land under consideration runs north of urbanized Pickering from the Scarborough/Pickering town line (west) to Highway 7 (north) to Brock road (east). Some of the land was sold with Agricultural easements. The majority is now privately owned, other than the 'environmentally sensitive' parts.
In the Provincial land swap, the Province acquired lands from Richmond Hill (from Developers) and in return gave over some land to developers in the Seaton area. The specifics of the land swap deal have still not been publicly disclosed.
The Province and The City of Pickering have each been developing their own growth plans for this land, which are in conflict with one another. Major concerns are regarding the land with Agricultural easements - Provincial Government restrictions may require the agricultural area to be held as green space & which/how much area to protect as environmentally sensitive lands. Whether the City and Province can come to consensus will not be known until the land swap is complete (likely timing of December).
Growth Management Study Update - March 2004
On Monday March 1st, Council voted to endorse for consultation, the Phase 2 reports. The output consists of three reports now available for review and comment: A Preferred Growth Management Concept & Structure Plan, a Market Analysis Report and a Water Budget Analysis.
These reports are available for review as follows:
- On the City's website (comments can be submitted)
- From the City libraries (2 reserve copies; 5 short term)
- From the Planning & Development Department where you can can view a paper copy at the counter, pick up a free electronic version (CD) or buy a paper copy
The recommended plan calls for development in Seaton as well as the agricultural lands, which are located, in part, along Altona Road. This mixed density development would accommodate 76,900 people and provide employment opportunities for approximately 33,000 people, mostly along the 407 corridor (some jobs will be contingent on the Airport).
It should be noted that the Pickering Growth Management Study is a recommendation only. Council has not voted on or approved the recommendations. Further, the Province does not support development in the designated agriculture lands.
The Documents can be reviewed and you may submit feedback / concerns at the cities website at the following link: