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Northeast (NE) Pickering Background 

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1. Background:

 

  • 1972: The Provincial Government enacted a Minister’s Zoning Order on the Northeast Pickering Lands to mitigate any resulting housing and resident-related issues associated with being near a future airport that remains in place to this day.

 

 

  • 2018: Durham Regional Council initiated a province-mandated growth plan called Envision Durham, a comprehensive review of the Durham Regional Official Plan, aimed at determining future land needs through 2051.

 

2. Key Events:

 

  • June 2020: Dorsay submitted a Request to Initiate a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) for Veraine. While Pickering endorsed the request, Durham Region opposed it, citing concerns as detailed in the Durham Region’s Planning Report.  

 

  • July 7, 2020 – Ajax Mayor Shaun Collier sends letter to Pickering (Attachment 3) indicating strong objection to Pickering’s      June 29, 2020 endorsement of an MZO on Northeast Pickering lands citing “The Town has justified and real concerns      regarding downstream flooding impacts associated with urbanization of the headwaters of the Carruthers Creek.”

 

  • October 2021: Dorsay offered land in Northeast Pickering to the City of Pickering for a potential hospital site. In January 2022, Lakeridge Health’s expert panel selected a site in Whitby as the preferred location, not Pickering.

 

  • December 23, 2022:  Mayor Ashe sends letter to Minister Steve Clarke  requesting an  MZO for the Northeast Pickering lands which faced objections from within Pickering and other stakeholders

 

  • 2022: The Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) lobbies for the inclusion of 4,000 acres in Northeast Pickering as part of Durham’s Official Plan via their LNA Scenario 2A

 

3. Durham Region Council rejects Envision Durham's recommended Land Needs Scenario 4 in favor of BILD's Scenario 2A, resulting in significantly more land being redesignated for urban use than needed.

 

  • May 3, 2022: Durham Region's Planning and Economic Development Committee received a pivotal Report 2022 P-1 from Planning Commissioner Brian Bridgeman, recommending Envision Durham’s Scenario 4 - a scenario that promoted balanced growth, meeting provincially mandated population targets for the Region while encouraging compact, walkable communities. It focuses on sustainable development by prioritizing serviced areas, reducing environmental impacts, and preserving agricultural and natural lands, balancing urban intensification with greenfield development to ensure both community and environmental sustainability.

 

  • May 25, 2022: Durham Regional Council voted 16-11 in favor of the BILD  Scenario 2A, rejecting the Envision Durham recommended Scenario 4, despite  Planning Commissioner Brian Bridgeman’s memo (see pages 26-43) highlighting numerous flaws in BILD Scenario 2A.  These flaws included failure to adhere to Envision Durham’s evaluation framework, lack of transparency, and support for an excessive urban expansion. The memo also noted that:

 

  • BILD Scenario 2A was not shared with the public, advisory committees, or stakeholders during the Envision Durham process, and staff raised concerns over its creation and multiple revisions submitted in April 2022.

 

  • BILD Scenario 2A was criticized by planning staff, Regional Advisory Councils, and the public (including Stop Sprawl Durham) for encouraging excessive greenfield development, low-density targets, and higher CO2 emissions while in contrast the Envision Durham recommended Scenario 4 would have balanced housing supply, supported higher-density communities, transit, and limited urban expansion.  May 3, 2022b Planning-and-Economic-Development-Committee

 

  • Page 39-40 of the memo notes that “Selection of a lower density alternative land need scenario such as the BILD Scenario, has the potential to adversely affect the following Strategic Plan goals and priorities:

 

Goal 1: Environmental Sustainability

 

  • The BILD Scenario would include additional farmland within the urban area beyond what is required to achieve the provincial forecasts.

  • The BILD Scenario moves further away from achieving net-zero [targets in addressing climate change].

  • By providing for less compact communities, the BILD Scenario places higher priority of automobile travel.

 

Goal 2: Community Vitality

 

  • The BILD Scenario assumes future communities will be spread further afield, less compact, where proximity to transit and cycling facilities are likely to be more remote and less economical.

 

Goal 3: Economic Development

 

  • The BILD Scenario would require transportation networks to connect at greater distances, moving people less effectively while making transit use less efficient.

  • The BILD Scenario would place more farmland under pressure for urbanization than is necessary to achieve the Region’s population forecast to 2051.

 

  • In summary, BILD sought approval for Scenario 2A in the Durham Region Official Plan (to 2051), aligning with the provincial planning horizon outlined in the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. According to the plan, without the expansion of the Durham Urban Boundary to include the Northeast Pickering lands, the proposed 4,000-acre Veraine Community may face challenges in moving forward. Scenario 4, which proposed 2,348 acres of new community land, did not match Scenario 2A’s 6,178 acres, making Scenario 2A a pivotal option for realizing the full scope of the development.

 

4. Current Status of Durham Regional Official Plan

 

  • September 3, 2024: The Province of Ontario released its Notice of Decision   with respect to an Official Plan Section 17(34) of the Planning Act.

 

The report states: A decision was made to “modify and approve in part, the Region of Durham Official Plan, as adopted by By-Law No. 38-2023 with seventy-seven (77) modifications” with a note that “a decision is being withheld at this time on maps and policies related to proposed settlement area boundary expansions in Northeast Pickering that overlaps with O. Reg 102/72 which the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing recently consulted on a proposal to amend.”

 

  • September 13, 2024: The Regional Municipality of Durham Information Report on page 5 speaks to Deferred Decision Part B and states “According to the Minister’s letter to Chair Henry dated September 3, 2024 (see Attachment #4), the deferral of a decision on the lands in northeast Pickering is intended to allow time for the Region, the City of Pickering and Indigenous communities to work together to review the concerns raised by Indigenous communities regarding future development of the northeast Pickering lands and discuss any possible solutions for a path forward. Outreach and engagement with Indigenous communities, and specifically the comments, discussions and iterative policy revisions undertaken in collaboration with the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation that led to the recommended ROP, are detailed in paragraphs 6.8 to 6.15 of Report #2023-P-15.

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WHY NORTHEAST PICKERING DEVELOPMENT MATTERS: KEY ISSUES TO CONSIDER

 

There is considerable debate over the development of Northeast Pickering for several reasons:

 

1. Environmental Impact: The area sits at the headwaters of Carruthers Creek, a sensitive watershed that affects downstream communities. According to studies by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), urbanization in this area could significantly increase flooding and erosion, with projected increases as high as 77%. Understanding these risks is vital for ensuring responsible and sustainable land-use planning.

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2. Public Opposition: Many community members and grassroots organizations, such as Stop Sprawl Durham, have raised strong concerns about the potential consequences of this development. They argue that the proposed urban expansion could lead to environmental degradation, increased taxes, and unchecked urban sprawl, negatively affecting the long-term health and well-being of the region. The public pushback highlights the importance of balancing growth with community values and sustainability. Article - Durham Council Opposes Hasty Development on Carruthers Creek Headwaters   

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3. Interplay of Key Forces: This issue also raises questions about governance and decision-making processes. The rejection of a more balanced, sustainable growth plan in favor of BILD’s development-heavy Scenario 2A—despite the environmental warnings and opposition from certain local leaders—demonstrates the complex interplay of political, economic, and community forces in shaping regional development. Understanding this situation is essential for grasping the stakes of future urban planning in Durham and the potential ripple effects on the broader Ontario region.

 

In conclusion, the proposed development in Northeast Pickering could present significant risks for both the environment and local communities. Policymakers and stakeholders should carefully evaluate these risks against the potential benefits, recognizing that responsible development is key to sustainable growth and the protection of natural landscapes.

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We encourage you to read the ‘Northeast Pickering Primer’ for more detailed information, and visit the Durham Region Official Plan Tab to stay updated on current developments.

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