The Niagara Escarpment Plan
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The Niagara Escarpment Plan OFFICE CONSOLIDATION November 13, 2014 THE NIAGARA ESCARPMENT PLAN (2005) Approved by the Lieutenant Governor on June 1, 2005 OFFICE CONSOLIDATION (November 13, 2014) This addition is prepared for convenience only, and for accurate reference recourse should be made to the June 1, 2005 Niagara Escarpment Plan and the Amendments noted below: D / M / Y Amendment #133 Approved by Minister 15/06/06 Amendment #135 Approved by Cabinet 01/12/06 Amendment #139 Approved by Minister 15/06/06 Amendment #145 Approved by Minister 07/09/06 Amendment #147 Approved by Consolidated Joint Board 01/12/05 Amendment #149 Approved by Consolidated Joint Board 13/09/06 Amendment #151 Approved by Minister 29/04/09 Amendment #155 Approved by Minister 28/06/06 Amendment #156 Approved by Minister 24/08/06 Amendment #158 Approved by Minister 06/04/06 Amendment #161 Approved by Consolidated Joint Board 18/06/12 Amendment #169 Approved by Minister 13/12/11 Amendment #170 Approved by Minister 29/04/09 Amendment #171 Approved by Minister 20/08/09 Amendment #172 Approved by Minister 23/03/11 Amendment #176 Approved by Minister 13/12/11 Amendment #177 Approved by Minister 06/01/12 Amendment #179 Approved by Minister 28/10/13 Amendment #181 Approved by Minister 30/11/10 Amendment #182 Approved by Minister 25/04/12 Amendment #186 Approved by Minister 07/03/13 Amendment #187 Approved by Minister 23/02/12 Amendment #188 Approved by Minister 23/02/12 Amendment #189 Approved by Minister 07/03/13 Amendment #190 Approved by Minister 23/02/12 Amendment #191 Approved by Minister 14/01/14 Amendment #192 Approved by Minister 02/02/12 Amendment #193 Approved by Minister 25/04/12 1 D / M / Y Amendment #195 Approved by Minister 18/09/14 Amendment #198 Approved by Minister 18/09/14 Amendment #199 Approved by Minister 10/11/14 Amendment to Approved pursuant to Change Utility Definition Green Energy Act, 2009 14/05/09 Modification Minor Urban Centre of Colpoy’s Bay Modified under Part 1.2.2 subsection n). Reduction in Area Approved by the Province as part of Bruce County Official Plan Review June 10, 2010. 10/06/10 Modification Minor Urban Centre of Barrow Bay Modified under Part 1.2.2 subsection o). Minor Urban Centre Symbol replaced by an Approved boundary by the Province as part of Bruce County Official Plan Review June 10, 2010. 10/06/10 Modification Approved by the NEC and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry under Part 1.2.2, subsections h) and i), nine (9) park and open space areas were added to the Plan Maps and to Appendix 1 on March 9, 2011. 09/03/11 Modification Minor Urban Centre of St. David’s Modified under Part 1.2.2 n). Reduction in Area and Boundary reconfiguration approved by the Ontario Municipal Board January 27, 2012. 27/01/12 Modification Minor Urban Centre of Griersville deleted as a rural settlement under Part 1.2.2.m). Deleted from Grey County Official Plan upon approval by the Ontario Municipal Board of Official Plan June 25, 2012 25/06/12 Modification Approved by the NEC and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry under Part 1.2.2, subsections h) and i), two (2) park and open space areas were added to the Plan Maps and Appendix 1 on December 3, 2012. 03/12/12 Modification Approved by the NEC and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry under Part 1.2.2, subsections h), i), and l), to add parks, modify park descriptions and change Nodal Parks and reflect these changes on the Plan Maps and Appendix I as requested by the NEPOSS Council on April 7, 2014. 19/06/14 2 51964 ISBN 0-7794-8194-1 Cette publication est également disponible en français. Pour en obtenir un exemplaire, prière de composer le 1 905 877-5191 ou d’aller à www.escarpment.org. On peut en obtenir un exemplaire au bureau le plus proche du Ministère des Richesses Naturelles. This publication is available on the Internet: http://www.escarpment.org 3 In 1990, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named Ontario’s Niagara Escarpment a World Biosphere Reserve. This designation recognizes the natural features and ecological importance of the Escarpment and endorses the Niagara Escarpment Plan. The Plan is Canada’s first, large scale environmental land use plan. It balances protection, conservation and sustainable development to ensure that the Escarpment will remain substantially as a natural environment for future generations. Collectively, UNESCO “Man and the Biosphere” reserves form a network of the world’s main ecological systems. They provide excellent opportunities to study and compare preserved, natural areas and developed areas. Biosphere reserves contain land used for a variety of purposes. The preserved, natural areas in reserves are a standard with which to measure the effects of human activity on the environment. Niagara Escarpment Commission 232 Guelph Street Halton Hills (Georgetown), Ontario L7G 4B1 Tel: (905) 877-5191 Fax: (905) 873-7452 www.escarpment.org 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 7 THE NIAGARA ESCARPMENT PLAN ........................................................................................ 7 HOW TO READ THIS PLAN .................................................................................................... 8 PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................... 9 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................................ 9 OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................ 9 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING ............................................................................................. 9 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................................ 9 INDICATORS ...................................................................................................................... 10 SCALE .............................................................................................................................. 10 USE OF MONITORING INFORMATION .................................................................................... 10 PART 1 LAND USE POLICIES ............................................................................................. 12 1.1 INTERPRETATION OF BOUNDARIES ........................................................................ 12 1.1.1 MORE RESTRICTIVE POLICIES IN MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL PLANS, SECONDARY PLANS AND BY-LAWS ............................................................................................................ 12 1.2 LAND USE DESIGNATIONS .................................................................................... 12 1.2.1 PLAN AMENDMENTS ............................................................................................ 13 1.2.2 EXCEPTIONS ....................................................................................................... 13 1.3 ESCARPMENT NATURAL AREA .............................................................................. 15 1.4 ESCARPMENT PROTECTION AREA ......................................................................... 19 1.5 ESCARPMENT RURAL AREA .................................................................................. 25 1.6 MINOR URBAN CENTRE ....................................................................................... 32 1.7 URBAN AREA ...................................................................................................... 36 1.8 ESCARPMENT RECREATION AREA ......................................................................... 39 1.9 MINERAL RESOURCE EXTRACTION AREA ............................................................... 42 PART 2 .............................................................................................................................. 48 DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA .................................................................................................... 48 2.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 48 2.2 GENERAL DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA ...................................................................... 48 2.3 EXISTING USES ................................................................................................... 62 2.4 LOT CREATION .................................................................................................... 63 2.5 NEW DEVELOPMENT AFFECTING STEEP SLOPES AND RAVINES ............................... 69 2.6 NEW DEVELOPMENT AFFECTING WATER RESOURCES ............................................ 69 2.7 NEW DEVELOPMENT WITHIN WOODED AREAS ....................................................... 74 2.8 WILDLIFE HABITAT ............................................................................................... 74 2.9 FOREST MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................ 75 2.10 AGRICULTURE ..................................................................................................... 76 2.11 MINERAL RESOURCES ......................................................................................... 82 2.12 HERITAGE ........................................................................................................... 85 2.13 RECREATION ......................................................................................................