REPORT - The Township of Uxbridge

The subject lands are located in the Provincial Greenbelt. Planning decisions must conform tothe Greenbelt Plan, as well as being consistent with the PPS and conforming with the GrowthPlan.The subject lands form part of the Uxbridge Urban Area which is located in the ProtectedCountryside designation of the Greenbelt Plan, but is identified as a “Town and Village” (SeeSchedule 1 to the Greenbelt Plan).The policies for Towns/Villages are found in Section 3.4.2 of the Plan. The relevant policiesindicate that the municipal official plan provides the policy direction within the boundary of asettlement area like the Uxbridge Urban Area as follows:“1. Towns/Villages, as identified in municipal official plans and within their approvedboundaries as they existed on the date of this Plan came into effect, continue to begoverned by municipal official plans and related programs or initiatives and are notsubject to the policies of this Plan, save for the external connection policies of section3.2.5.2. Municipalities are encouraged to continue their efforts to support the long-term viabilityof these settlements through appropriate planning and economic development approacheswhich seek to maintain, intensify and/or revitalize these communities. This includesmodest growth that is compatible with the long-term role of these settlements as part ofthe Protected Countryside and the capacity to provide locally based sewage and waterservices.”The external connection policies of section 3.25 are applicable to the subject lands which includea portion of the valley of the Uxbridge Brook. In particular, the policies state in Section 3.2.5.2that municipalities:“2. In considering land conversions or redevelopments in or abutting an urban river valley,strive for planning approaches that:a) Establish or increase the extent or width of vegetation protection zones in naturalself-sustaining vegetation, especially in ecologically sensitive areas (i.e. near thestream and below the stable top of bank);b) Increase or improve fish habitat in streams and adjacent riparian lands;c) Include landscaping and habitat restoration that increase the ability of nativeplants and animals to use valley systems as both wildlife habitat and movementcorridors; andd) Seek to avoid, minimize and/or mitigate impacts associated with the quality andquantity of urban run-off into valley systems;”4