WHERE TIRES ARE A SPECIALTY, NOT A SIDELINE. Farm - Auto - Truck - Industrial - Lawn & Garden - On The Farm Service Vol 23 | Issue 30 35 Howard Ave., ELMIRA, ON | 519-669-3232
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When school's out, Woolwich's camp is in People. Places. Pictures. Profiles. Perspectives.
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VOLUME 24 | ISSUE
23
JUNE 13, 2019
M U N I C I PA L M AT T E R S
THE MAN IN THE HOOD RETURNS
Province pushes ahead with changes despite municipal opposition
Ontario communities have raised concerns about Bill 108’s sweeping changes to planning controls BY VERONICA REINER vreiner@woolwichobserver.com
There was plenty of merriment to be had at this year’s Robin in the Hood Medieval Festival, which was held over the weekend under sunny skies at Elmira’s Gibson Park. Area school children were bused in for an education day on Friday, while Saturday saw huge crowds come out to enjoy a day in 12th century Nottingham, England. [FAISAL ALI / THE OBSERVER]
The province’s Bill 108 – the More Homes, More Choice Act – has been widely panned by municipalities across Ontario, with local councils being no exception. A plethora of objections, spearheaded by the Region of Waterloo, have been backed by Wellesley and Woolwich townships, for instance. The bill, critics say, will have negative impacts on municipalities’ ability to carry out community building and good planning. The sweeping legislation amends 13 acts, including the Planning Act and Development Charges Act, a move the province says cuts red tape and which opponents say gives still more power to developers eager to override local planning decisions. Introduced early in May and passed just over a month later, the bill reflects the quick turnaround and limited opportunity for consultation that has been the hallmark of the Ford government elected a year ago. Local municipal planners raised
concerns about significantly reducing timelines for making planning decisions, and changing how growth-related costs are funded through the Development Charges Act, for instance. The government maintains the bill addresses the affordability and housing supply in Ontario by streamlining development approvals, supporting a range and mix of housing options as well as reducing and providing more certainty about municipal development charges. Municipalities have a different take, however. “This is just another piece of legislation that the province has changed on us and changed the rules in a very significant way,” said Wellesley Township planner Geoff Vanderbaaren in addressing the issue at council last month. “[There are] very short timeframes for this. You’ll see a lot of municipalities have said ‘there’s a lot of unknowns in here because we don’t have regulations.’” Municipalities across the province have been vocal in opposition to the changes, opting to make official objections during the comment period and seeking the support of other communities in passing critical resolutions. Common concerns include changes to eliminate development
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