Protecting Environmentally Sensitive Areas In Ontario The Oak Ridges Moraine in Newmarket

The Oak Ridges Moraine is a line of low sandy hills formed by glaciers about 12,000 years ago. It stretches for about 160 km west to east, just north of Richmond Hill.

It’s an area of natural beauty which is being threatened by urban development in York Region.

Why is it important? Acts like a giant sponge – soaks up rain and snow melt Headwaters 65 river systems that flow into Lake Ontario, Georgian Bay, Trent River, and Lake Simcoe It is a unique ecosystem that is vital to Southern Ontario

Protecting the Moraine Legislation Province of Ontario -Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, 2002 Town of Newmarket - Zoning and Planning By-Laws -Official Plan

Province of Ontario - established policy for protecting the Oak Ridges Moraine. Municipal planning decisions are required to conform to the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan. This Conservation Plan prevails over municipal official plans. The Province requires that municipal Official Plans be amended to conform to the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (Ontario Regulation 140/02) as required by the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, These Official Plan Amendment affect all lands located within the Oak Ridges Moraine boundaries.

Moraine Protection in Newmarket Any part of the Moraine that is located within the municipal boundaries of Newmarket will fall under the Provinces conservation policies and the Town of Newmarket’s zoning bylaws and Official Plan.

Protecting the Moraine Private land purchase/donations: Environmental groups will purchase land scheduled for development in order to protect it. Private landowners donate their land to organizations in order to protect it from development.

Oak Ridges Moraine in York Region

Has the Moraine been threatened in Newmarket? YES! In 2007 Mademont Investment Ltd. wanted approval to build 448 homes on the east side of Bathurst Street, south of Mulock Drive on hectares of land located within the boundaries of the Oak Ridges Moraine located in Newmarket.

Proposed development land - Newmarket

Mademont appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) asking for a change to Newmarket’s Amended Official Plan designating the land as “Environmental Protection –Oak Ridges Moraine” In its decision the OMB said that:

In January 2009 the OMB found in favor of the Town of Newmarket. The designation of “Environmental Protection – Oak Ridges Moraine “would not be changed and Mademont could not develop the land. The Town of Newmarket was selected as a 2009 Moraine Hero Award winner under the category of Municipal Leadership at the recent 2009 Moraine For Life Community Well-being Symposium. The award for Municipal Leadership is given to a municipality who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in protecting and preserving the Oak Ridges Moraine with proactive approaches to address and improve moraine-related issues

The Town of Newmarket highly values its green space, and the Oak Ridges Moraine is an important part of our natural heritage,” says Newmarket Mayor Tony Van Bynen. “We’re proud to be a Moraine Hero, and we hope that this helps to lead the way for other municipalities that are also dedicated to preserving green spa But all agree there is much room for improvement. With the preservation plan slated to undergo a mandatory review in 2015, many ideas are already being proposed, ranging from bureaucratic tinkering to major alterations to where development is permitted