Niagara Escarpment Plan expansion meeting in Mulmur Sept. 26
Two additional public information sessions about proposed additions to the Niagara Escarpment Plan have been scheduled, including one in Mulmur on Sept. 26.
A 2015 Niagara Escarpment Plan Review proposes almost doubling the amount of Mulmur land, adding 5,565 hectares to the existing 6,988 hectares. Lands designated natural area within the plan could qualify for a 100 per cent property tax exemption for land that has important natural heritage features under the Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program.
Based on the current criteria for the natural area designation, Mulmur is estimating it could lose $832,000 in annual tax revenue, which is 24 per cent of the township’s total tax levy. To make up for the loss in revenue and to negate a service reduction, the tax rate would increase $440 per year on a $400,000 property, not to mention an increase in the county and school board portions of the tax bill.
Mulmur Mayor Paul Mills is urging people to attend the upcoming meeting to learn more about how the proposed changes would affect them and to submit comments to the ministry.
“I bet 90 per cent or more don’t know what’s going on here,” said Mills.
Mills said, a year ago, when the changes were proposed as part of a Coordinated Land Use Planning Review, led by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, that also includes the Growth Plan of the Greater Golden Horseshoe, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and the Greenbelt Plan, Mulmur started working with its neighbours to present a united front.
County representatives from Dufferin, Grey, Bruce and Simcoe took a team approach to voice opposition to the changes and asked for a one-year extension on commenting period.
The ministry has agreed to a one-month extension and feedback will be accepted until October 31. They also wanted to have meetings in the areas most affected by the plan.
Mulmur’s position, said Mills, is that the land is already protected by the conservation authority and the township’s Official Plan and that any additional land designations are duplications.
Clearview Township council discussed its response to the proposed changes at a special meeting on August 22. If the changes are approved, Clearview could see its NEP land area double to 8,624 hectares. The area includes lands around Duntroon, Creemore and Avening.
Shawn Davidson is the County of Simcoe’s representative on the Niagara Escarpment Commission. He said other counties have proposed abolishing the NEC.
“It’s here to stay probably, in our lifetime, so let’s see that it is streamlined,” said Davidson.
“They are dipping their toe in the water and it’s boiling so they are not going to dive in, that’s the impression I’m getting,” said Davidson.
The Mulmur meeting is on Monday, Sept. 26 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the lower level of Mulmur Township office, at 758070 2nd Line East. A second meeting is in Owen Sound on Sept. 28. To provide feedback, e-mail landuseplanningreview@ontario.ca or call 1-800-665-1120.
