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Good News and Bad News on Merton Lands

Karen Brock Photographer, People tour woodlands during the fall |  Karen Brock President of Oakvillegreen
Karen Brock Photographer, People tour woodlands during the fall | Karen Brock President of Oakvillegreen

It is now official - Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn has managed to preserve the Provincial portion of Merton Lands and we now have a letter, signed by the Minister of Infrastructure Ontario, Glen Murray.  The letter is straightforward, and provides hope for preservation even beyond 2022 (the end of the current lease) for Deerfield Golf Course. All the remaining Provincial Lands within the Merton study area will remain leased to the Town until 2040 (including the Third Line Lands).

Thank you to all of you who spoke up, attended meetings and spread the word - that really helped send a message to the Province. Thank you Kevin Flynn and Infrastructure Ontario. I don't think this was an easy task for MPP Flynn, so if you want to send your thanks you can do so at [email protected]

One more step is required to save the Provincial land, which is a letter from the Province to withdraw its development application. This is coming soon says MPP Flynn. If you received a letter from the Town about development of Provincial lands please ignore it as the town was following procedure given they had not yet received a confirmation letter from the Province.

Now for the bad news. Bronte Green owned by ARGO has submitted what the town calls a "complete application" to develop Saw-whet Golf Course, which means Bronte Green intends to push for their project to build 875 residential units on the land despite Council's resolution to do more studies of the land in hopes of preventing development there. Council unanimously endorsed the Mayor's proposal on April 14. Stay tuned - I'll keep you informed.