The provincial government introduced the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act in 2001, an agreement between landowners and the Province to exchange sensitive moraine lands in Richmond Hill for publicly owned lands in Seaton. Now, that land has been exchanged between the Province and four developers, who have acquired a total of 1,525 acres of Seaton land in Pickering. The director of the central regional office of municipal affairs and housing explained the Province received just more than 1,000 acres of land in Richmond Hill and just more than 1,300 acres in Uxbridge.
"Both those lands are environmentally sensitive lands - they're on the Moraine - and they will be held in public ownership from now on and not developed," Larry Clay said.
Pickering Ward 1 City Councillor Jennifer O'Connell worries the Seaton lands are not as protected as those in the Oak Ridges Moraine, and believes they're just as environmentally sensitive. She said Seaton contains the last cold water streams in the Greater Toronto Area, which play an integral part of the system of streams and aquifers that end up in Lake Ontario and Frenchman's Bay.
"We have this sensitive land and it's just been swapped by the Province," she said.
Mr. Clay said Seaton's environmental aspects are taken into account, and it is protected by the Central Pickering Development Plan (CPDP). He said more than 50 per cent of it is protected from development, typically around "natural water courses, streams and other natural features."
Coun. O'Connell believes the development of Seaton, especially adding 70,000 new people, will hurt existing taxpayers in Pickering since everything has to be in place before they move in. She believes they will have to cover the costs.
Mayor Dave Ryan, however, is excited about the land exchange since the development of Seaton has been on the City's agenda for many years.
"This is a very exciting challenge that is before us and we are looking forward to the opportunity to show how the City of Pickering is able to develop a sustainable community," he said.
He added the Province will have to ensure the services are in place ahead of time, employment lands along Hwy. 407 are serviced, and commit to "prestige" employment, so people won't have to resort to other areas, such as York Region and Toronto, for employment.
Mayor Ryan said the environmental aspects have been well documented, and remain in the forefront of future plans. And although the CPDP is a provincial plan, private interests will now have to work with City staff to ensure the plans are the best possible in terms of the environment, the economy and social impacts on the municipality.
"Our job now is to take the plan to the next level with the developers and build the best possible product," he said.
He said there will most likely be a full range of housing options from rental to affordable housing to single-family units.
Fast facts
The big four landowners are: Metrus Developments Inc., Lebovic Homes, Mattamy Homes and Joey Tanenbaum.
In 2002, David Crombie chaired the North Pickering Land Exchange Review Panel to recommend a set of principles to guide the exchange, valuation and future development of the North Pickering lands.
The Moraine is the source of drinking water for approximately 250,000 people and the starting point of 65 streams in Southern Ontario.
