Council acted unanimously to add more land under the urban river valley designation of the Greenbelt Plan; upon approval by the province, the move will ensure that designated public lands will continue to be used for natural heritage and cannot be sold for other uses.
“This Council has been persistent in achieving the highest level of protection for Oakville’s green spaces,” Mayor Rob Burton said. “This initiative to add more land under the urban river valley designation of the Greenbelt Plan, continues our efforts to create a cleaner, greener Oakville to be enjoyed by successive generations of Oakville residents.”
The resolution passed last night asks the region to endorse the addition of the natural heritage lands as well as publicly owned valley lands and town parks, generally south of Upper Middle Road to the QEW, to the Greenbelt Plan, under the urban river valley designation.
The town’s request to add these lands to the Greenbelt Plan must be made by the region to the province. The town anticipates that the region will consider and approve the town’s request at the February 26 session of Regional Council, where there will be an opportunity for public comment. Once approved by the region, the request will be submitted for provincial approval.