Innisfil Official Plan OMB Approved - Town of Innisfil

Town of Innisfil Official PlanLAND USE POLICIES3SECTION THREE: LAND USE POLICIESIntent:This Section sets out the proposed land use designations that would apply throughout the Townof Innisfil. In some cases these designations will only be found in the Secondary Plans for theUrban Settlements. However, in order to ensure consistency among the Secondary Plans, thepolicies for these designations are found within this Section of the Plan. Secondary Plansapproved subsequent to this Official Plan can use these designations without the need forrepeating the entire policy regime that accompanies the designation. In some instances, theSecondary Plans may contain slight policy differences to recognize and regulate situationsparticular to a given settlement area or to provide policies directed at a specific site.3.1 NATURAL ENVIRONMENTIntent:The intent of the Natural Environment policies is to protect significant natural heritage featuresand functions for their ecological benefit, contribution to human health, and to preserve thenatural heritage of the Town of Innisfil. Wherever possible, this is to be achieved through theprotection of natural heritage features within a Natural Heritage System and within the NaturalEnvironment Area designation.Goals:To protect and enhance the natural environment of the Town.Objectives:1. To promote the preservation of important natural heritage features and functionssuch as wetlands, significant woodlands, significant valleylands, significant wildlifehabitat, fisheries, Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI), EnvironmentallySignificant Areas (ESA), linkages among natural heritage features and ground andsurface water resources.2. To consider the cumulative effects of new development and site alteration on thenatural environment with respect to ecological features and functions, andsurrounding land uses.3. To ensure the development review process identifies the significance of naturalheritage features and evaluates the ecological function of such features.4. To require development to enhance stormwater quality in order to improve andrestore the water quality in Lake Simcoe.5. To protect groundwater from pollution.6. To cooperate with adjacent municipalities with regard to environmental issues inthe planning of watersheds when the watersheds cross municipal boundaries.7. To cooperate with the Conservation Authorities and the County in the protection ofthe natural environment.28Adopted July 26, 2006 Approved by OMB May 2009, March 2010 & April 8, 2011