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Caroline Mulroney announces creation of giant nature reserve
On June 16, 2021 the Honourable Caroline Mulroney, M.P.P. announced the creation of an 890-acre publicly-owned nature reserve in the North Gwillimbury Forest.
The new nature reserve includes all the lands that were owned by the DG Group between Boyers Road, Metro Road and Woodbine Avenue, including their Maple Lake Estates property.
The nature reserve will be owned by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA).
The new nature reserve is a priceless ecological asset for the Town of Georgina, the Lake Simcoe watershed and the Province of Ontario.
Protect our forest!
One of the ten largest forests in the Lake Simcoe watershed, the North Gwillimbury Forest is a priceless natural asset for the Town of Georgina. It stretches all the way from the north end of Keswick to Jackson’s Point — an area more than three times larger than Vancouver’s Stanley Park.
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Despite the fact that both York Region’s Official Plan and provincial policy make it clear that wetlands and significant woodlands within this forest are off limits to development, the DG Group received permission from the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority in 2018 to build a 1,073 unit Maple Lake Estates (MLE) subdivision on the Paradise Beach-Island Grove provincially significant wetland in the North Gwillimbury Forest. If this project were to proceed, it would drive a stake through the heart of the Forest and split it in two.
The North Gwillimbury Forest Alliance has fought this plan every step of the way and has exposed the poor policy decisions made by the Town of Georgina as well as why DG Group's rule-breaking proposal should never be approved (click here to learn more about our fight.) The citizens of Georgina have overwhelmingly backed our position that we should not be building subdivisions in provincially significant wetlands.
In December 2019, the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal amended the Town of Georgina's Official Plan and designated more than 99% of the MLE lands as an Environmental Protection Area. The DG Group appealed the ruling, but its appeal was rejected. As a result, on November 15, 2023, the Town approved a new Countryside Zoning Bylaw which prohibits development on 100% of the MLE lands.
What you can do:
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- It is expensive to battle a huge developer like DG Group. Please consider making a donation to help us pay for expert legal and planning assistance.
- Learn more about our three-pronged strategy to protect the forest.
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The North Gwillimbury Forest Alliance is a member of Lake Simcoe Watch |
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The North Gwillimbury Forest Alliance is a member of the Lake Simcoe Association |
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The North Gwillimbury Forest Alliance is a member of the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance |
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The North Gwillimbury Forest Alliance is a member of the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition. |
Protecting the Greenbelt
November 2022 – Oraclepoll Research, Telephone Survey Report
Keswick Secondary Plan Review
March 9, 2022 – Letter from NGFA planner Tony Usher to Georgina
Next steps for MLE lands
September 2, 2022 - Letter from NGFA planner Tony Usher to Town of Georgina
May 31, 2021 – Letter from NGFA lawyer Leo Longo to Georgina Town Council
August 11, 2020 – Notice re: Potential Judicial Review
July 27, 2020 - Letter from NGFA planner Tony Usher to Town of Georgina.
Jan. 9, 2020 - Letter from NGFA lawyer Leo Longo to Georgina Town Council.
Schell Lumber
September 29, 2021 – Letter from NGFA planner, Tony Usher, to Town of Georgina
November 19, 2020 - Memo from NGFA planner, Tony Usher, to Town of Georgina.
October 15, 2019 letter from NGFA planner to the Town of Georgina
LPAT appeal of Georgina’s Official Plan
May 14, 2020 - LPAT dismisses the DG Group’s request for a review of its December 19, 2019 decision
Dec. 19, 2019 - LPAT rules that lands should be designated Environment Protection Area
April 30, 2018 - Reply Witness Statement of Anthony Usher prepared for the NGFA
April 9, 2018 - Expert Witness Statement of Anthony Usher prepared for the NGFA
April 9, 2018 – Planners Agreed Statement of Facts
November 17, 2016 letter, from NGFA lawyer Leo Longo, appealing Georgina’s Official Plan
Polling results - 83% support appeal
Proposed Amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act
Region of York’s Review of Georgina’s Official Plan
October 11, 2016 letter to York Region from NGFA lawyer Leo Longo
July 13, 2016 - Letter from NGFA to York Region Chair Wayne Emmerson and council
Why the Planning Act requires protection for MLE and why the Greenbelt Act does not stop council from acting
DG Group’s Application for Permission to Destroy Paradise Beach-Island Grove Provincially Significant Wetland
March 26, 2018 - Statement from Percy Hatfield, M.P.P., NDP Critic for Municipal Affairs and Housing
Statement from Ontario Liberal candidate for York—Simcoe, Loralea Carruthers
March 20, 2018 Letter from David Loft (Trillium Party) opposing the DG Group's Application
July 14, 2017 letter from NGFA Planner Anthony Usher to LSRCA re: Section 28 application
June 8, 2017 letter from NGFA Planner Anthony Usher to LSRCA re: Section 28 application
May 2, 2017 DG Group’s new Section 28 permit application
Natural Resource Solutions Inc.’s Peer Review of the Maple Lake Estates Environmental Impact Study
NGFA Planner Anthony Usher’s review of the DG Group’s Section 28 Permit Application
The DG Group’s Section 28 Permit Application as submitted to the LSRCA
July 30, 2015 letter from NGFA Lawyer Leo Longo to LSRCA re: No legal or policy justification for withholding DG Group application from the public
LSRCA Subdivisions-in-Wetlands Policy
April 8, 2015 letter from Anthony Usher, MCIP, RPP, to LSRCA
Jack Gibbons speaking notes for LSRCA board meeting on March 27, 2015
Feb. 25, 2015 letter from Anthony Usher, MCIP, RPP, to LSRCA
September 26, 2014 letter from Leo Longo, Aird & Berlis LLP, to LSRCA
September 26, 2014 letter from Anthony Usher, MCIP, RPP, to LSRCA
July 28, 2014 letter from Anthony Usher, MCIP, RPP to LSRCA.
Reply from Mike Walters, General Manager, Watershed Management, LRSCA - August 18, 2014
NGFA SUBMISSIONS
Keep development out of the Greenbelt Protected Countryside
March 11, 2019 Letter from Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark to NGFA
Maple Lake Estates Swap Options Map
Jan. 31, 2017 - Letter from NGFA to Minister of Municipal Affairs Bill Mauro
May 3, 2016 - Letter from NGFA to Minister of Municipal Affairs Ted McMeekin.
May 21, 2005 submission to Provincial Coordinated Land Use Review from NGFA Planner Tony Usher.
May 21, 2015 letter from NGFA Planner Tony Usher to Mayor Quirk and council.
Jack Gibbons’ Speaking Notes for his May 13, 2015 deputation to Georgina Town Council
Review of Conservation Authorities Act
Oct. 17, 2017 - Submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy
Sept. 6, 2016 letter from NGFA Planner Tony Usher to Ministry of Natural Resources
Submission on behalf of NGFA from planner Tony Usher
Metrus development application premature
NGFA Planner Tony Usher’s Sept. 21, 2015 letter to Georgina Town Council on DG Group's premature subdivision application for South Keswick
NGFA Planner Tony Usher’s March 11, 2015 deputation to the Town of Georgina re: Metrus’ premature subdivision application for South Keswick
NGFA Planner Tony Usher’s September 10, 2014 deputation to Georgina Town Council re: Metrus’ premature subdivision application for South Keswick
March 2, 2015 letter from NGFA Planner Tony Usher to Georgina Council re: ammended applications.
Town of Georgina must obey the law!
NGFA Lawyer Leo Longo’s August 21, 2014 submissions to Town of Georgina re: its Planning Directions Report
NGFA Planner Anthony Usher’s August 22, 2014 submissions to Town of Georgina re: its Planning Directions Report
Comments on Official Plan Review & Maple Lake Estates
NGFA Planning Consultant Anthony Usher's comments on Georgina's draft official plan (July 31, 2015). The draft plan is certainly an improvement, but should do much more to reflect the important natural values of the Maple Lakes Estate woodlands and wetlands.
According to NGFA planning consultant Anthony Usher’s March 20, 2014 letter to the Town of Georgina, the best option for a Maple Lake Estates development approvals swap would be to provide equivalent development approvals on lands owned by Metrus affiliates in south Keswick.
Click here to read Tony's letter
NGFA lawyer Leo Longo's response to Metrus' submission to the LSRCA
Submissions to LSRCA on need to repeal Maple Lakes Estate Loophole
Comments on Official Plan Review
NGFA Planning Consultant Anthony Usher’s December 20, 2013 letter to Town of Georgina re: Official Plan Review and Maple Lake Estates
MLE loophole not just bad policy — it's illegal
NGFA solicitor Leo Longo outlines why the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority's open door policy for development in provincially significant wetlands needs to be immediately repealed.
Read Mr. Longo's legal opinion
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Click here for more NGFA submissions
NEWS
LSRCA permit for subdivision in Georgina wetland prompts harsh backlash - YorkRegion.com - March 27, 2018
Georgina group vows OMB appeal to stop wetlands development - Georgina Advocate, Oct. 14, 2016
Environmental group decries Lake Simcoe mobile-home park project: A 30-year-old plan to build a trailer park on wetland may live on despite new rules curbing development in the area. - Toronto Star, May 10, 2015
Landmark agreement could be reached on North Gwillimbury Forest's Maple Lake Estates - Georgina Advocate, June 24, 2013
'Uphill battle' building over forest development - 70 residents pack hall to help stop Metrus - Georgina Advocate, April 29, 2013
Georgina residents fight historic development rights on wetlands - Toronto Star, April 22, 2013
Community involvement good for democracy - Georgina Advocate, April 4, 2013
'We will lose' legal battle on development: town - Residents feel plea to halt plan falls on deaf ears - Georgina Advocate, March 28, 2013
300 name petition to stop forest development - Georgina Advocate, March 21, 2013
Legal wrangling on impending Forest development - Georgina Advocate, Jan. 31, 2013
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BULLETINS:
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The North Gwillimbury Forest includes the York Regional Forest and the Arnold C. Matthews Nature Reserve. The Reserve will be cut off from the rest of the forest by Metrus' proposed Maple Leaf Estates.
© North Gwilliumbury Forest Alliance | info@saveNGforest.org