Urban River Valley amendment to the Greenbelt Plan

Approved by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, Order-in-Council No. 110/2013 January 9, 2013 (effective January 10, 2013).
GREENBELT PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 1
THE AMENDMENT
The following is the text which constitutes Amendment No. 1 to the Greenbelt Plan:

1. Section 1.1 Context is amended by adding the following new paragraph after the 8th paragraph of that section:
   “The Greenbelt Plan is structured to provide for the inclusion of publicly owned lands in urban river valleys that were not in the Greenbelt at the time the Plan was approved in 2005. These lands, while not part of the Protected Countryside, are part of the Greenbelt and these areas assist in recognizing the importance of connections to Lake Ontario and other areas in Southern Ontario.”
   
2. Section 1.2.2 Goals is amended by adding the words “Protected Countryside” before the word “Goals” in the title of the section.
   
3. The following new section 1.2.3 Urban River Valley Goals is added after the end of amended section 1.2.2 Protected Countryside Goals:
   

“1.2.3 Urban River Valley Goals
To integrate the Greenbelt into urban areas which were not in the Greenbelt at the time it was approved in 2005, by promoting the following matters within the Urban River Valley designation:

•   Protection of natural and open space lands along river valleys in urban areas which will assist in connecting the rest of the Greenbelt Area to the Great Lakes and other inland lakes;
  
•   Protection of natural heritage and hydrologic features and functions along urban river valleys;
  
•   Provision of a gateway to the rural landscape of the Greenbelt; and
  
•   Provision of a range of natural settings on publicly owned lands for recreational, cultural and tourism uses including parkland, open space land and trails.”
  
  
  
  

4. Section 1.4.2 Structure of the Plan is amended by deleting the paragraph titled “Section 2.0 – Greenbelt Plan” and replacing with the following:
   “Section 2.0 – Greenbelt Plan: Describes the lands governed by the Greenbelt Plan, which include the NEP Area, the Oak Ridges Moraine Area, the Parkway Belt West Plan Area, lands designated as Urban River Valley and lands designated Protected Countryside in this Plan. It describes how lands in the three existing provincial plans and lands designated as Urban River Valley are affected by this Plan, and that lands designated as Protected Countryside within the Greenbelt Area are subject to the entire Greenbelt Plan except section 6.0.”
   
5. Section 1.4.2 Structure of the Plan is amended by adding after the paragraph titled “Section 5.0 – Implementation”, the following new paragraph:
   “Section 6.0 – Urban River Valley Policies: Sets out policies for the Urban River Valley designation that applies to publicly owned urban river valley lands brought into the Greenbelt by amendment after approval of the Plan in 2005.”
   
6. Section 1.4.3 How to Read this Plan is amended by adding the following new paragraph after the first paragraph of item 1:
   “Determine if the lands are located within the Urban River Valley designation on Schedule 1. If so, the specific policies set out in section 6.0 for the designation apply.”
   
7. Section 2.0 GREENBELT PLAN is amended by adding the words “and as Urban River Valley” after the words “Protected Countryside” in the first paragraph.
   
8. Section 2.4 Lands within the Protected Countryside Area is amended by adding the text “, except section 6.0” after the words “Greenbelt Plan”.
   
9. The following new section 2.5 Lands within the Urban River Valley Area is added after the end of amended section 2.4 Lands within the Protected Countryside Area:
   

“2.5 Lands within the Urban River Valley Area
Lands within the Urban River Valley designation, as shown on Schedule 1, are subject to the policies of section 6.0 and the Protected Countryside polices do not apply except as set out in that section.”

10. Section 5.5.3 Schedules and Appendices is amended by adding the text “, the Urban River Valley Area” after the words “Oak Ridges Moraine Area” in number 1.
    
11. The following new section 6.0 URBAN RIVER VALLEY POLICIES is added after the end of section 5.0 IMPLEMENTATION:
    

“6.0 URBAN RIVER VALLEY POLICIES
Key river valleys in urban areas adjacent to the Greenbelt provide opportunities for additional connections to help expand and integrate the Greenbelt and its systems into the broader Southern Ontario landscape. The Urban River Valley designation provides direction to those areas where the Greenbelt occupies river valleys in an urban context. These urban river valleys may be the setting for a network of uses and facilities including recreational, cultural and tourist amenities and infrastructure, which are needed to support urban areas.
6.1 Description
The Urban River Valley designation as shown on Schedule 1 applies to publicly owned lands within the main corridors of river valleys connecting the rest of the Greenbelt to the Great Lakes and inland lakes. The lands in this designation comprise river valleys and associated lands and are generally characterized by being:

•   Lands containing natural and hydrologic features; and/or
  
•   Lands designated in municipal official plans for uses such as parks, open
  

6.2

space, recreation, conservation and environmental protection.
Policies

1. 6.2.1  The lands are governed by the applicable municipal official plan policies provided they have regard to the objectives of the Greenbelt Plan.
   
2. 6.2.2  All existing, expanded or new infrastructure which is subject to and approved under the Environmental Assessment Act, or which receives a
   

similar approval, is permitted provided it supports the needs of adjacent urban areas or serves the significant growth and economic development expected in southern Ontario and supports the goals and objectives of the Greenbelt Plan.
6.2.3 The Protected Countryside policies do not apply except for:

1. (a)  The external connections policies of section 3.2.5; and
   
2. (b)  The parkland, open space and trails policies of section 3.3.”
   

12. Schedule 1 of the Greenbelt Plan is amended consistent with the attached Map A by designating the lands described in paragraph 4 of Ontario Regulation 59/05, as amended, as Urban River Valley, showing those lands within the Greenbelt Area and making necessary modifications to the legend.
    
13. Schedule 4 of the Greenbelt Plan is amended consistent with the attached Map A by showing the lands described in paragraph 4 of Ontario Regulation 59/05, as amended, as being designated as Urban River Valley and within the Greenbelt Area, and making necessary modifications to the legend.
    
14. Appendix I of the Greenbelt Plan is amended consistent with the attached Map A by showing the lands described in paragraph 4 of Ontario Regulation 59/05, as amended, as being designated as Urban River Valley and within the Greenbelt Area, and making necessary modifications to the legend.
    
15. Appendix II of the Greenbelt Plan is amended consistent with the attached Map A by showing the lands described in paragraph 4 of Ontario Regulation 59/05, as amended, as being designated as Urban River Valley and within the Greenbelt Area, and making necessary modifications to the legend.
    
16. The Table of Contents is amended by deleting the title “1.2.2 Goals” and replacing with “1.2.2 Protected Countryside Goals”, and by adding the new section titles of “1.2.3 Urban River Valley Goals”, “2.5 Lands within the Urban River Valley Area” and “6.0 URBAN RIVER VALLEY POLICIES” in the appropriate places.