Newmarket's council meeting will be live-streamed from the town's website today, Monday, Jan. 18, starting at 1 p.m. Here is what NewmarketToday will be following:
Click here for the full agenda.
Rollback of environmental protections on Oak Ridges Moraine land
Monday's meeting will be an opportunity for the public to have its say about an application to have the southwest corner of Newmarket redesignated from an environmental protection area to being both an emerging residential and environmental protection area.
This change would allow a major development project proposed by Shining Hill Estates for new housing and commercial subdivisions on two large parcels of land within the environmental protection area.
This area of Newmarket is one of the only undeveloped spaces within the town's boundaries, expressly because environmental protections have prohibited development there since 2003.
Much of the area is part of the Oak Ridges Moraine, a large and ecologically sensitive area protected by provincial regulations governing its use and future development. But Newmarket's blanket prohibition of development on the moraine lands is unusual compared to Aurora and York Region's policies, both of which allow development with conditions.
So far, there has been a large public response to the proposal. As of Jan. 15, there are five deputations scheduled for Monday and a whopping 23 written submissions to the council about the project.
"Protections of lands are so essential; green space is so important. It surprises us that the Town of Newmarket is even considering this; the lands were protected, please keep them that way," wrote Ashley Arkeveld.
No decision will be made on Monday, but council will have to weigh the needs of environmental protection with the community's need for more housing, an issue that is going only to become worse as York Region's population grows by 2.02 million over the next 30 years.
New emergency measures bylaw
Now that the province's state of the emergency declaration has come to effect on Thursday, the Newmarket council is planning to pass new emergency measures and enforcement bylaws on Monday to ensure compliance with the emergency declaration.
Under the new bylaw:
- No one can have a gathering of more than the number allowed in the emergency order (five people)
- No one shall enter or remain in a park that has been closed by the Town of Newmarket
- Every person shall remain two metres away from any individual who isn't a member of their household, on either public or private property
- every person shall wear a mask in accordance with the emergency order
- Parents must ensure children under age 16 comply with provincial legislation
- Businesses shall not permit more than the number of individuals allowed under the emergency order to enter their storefronts
The fines set for breaking these bylaws will range from $400 to $750.
Individuals who wish to submit input to council in relation to an item on this agenda have the following options available.
- Email your correspondence to [email protected] by end of day on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021. Written correspondence received by this date will form part of the public record or;
- Make a live remote deputation by joining the virtual meeting using the town's videoconferencing software and verbally provide your comments over video or telephone. To select this option, pre-register by emailing your request and contact information to [email protected].
