Natural Heritage Provincial Policy Statement 2014 NATURAL HERITAGE Nature is bountiful. It is also fragile and finite.
Provincial Natural Heritage 0 Interest: Ontario s natural heritage resources are valuable and finely balanced They have a finite capacity to support development and land use change
Policy highlights: natural heritage Identifying Natural Heritage Systems New requirement Policy 2.1.3 New policy: Natural heritage systems shall be identified in Ecoregions 6E & 7E, recognizing that natural heritage systems will vary in size and form in settlement areas, rural areas, and prime agricultural areas Photo credit: Tim Hagen
Policy highlights: natural heritage Significant Woodlands and Valleylands Policy 2.1.5.b, c Refined area of protection for significant woodlands and significant valleylands reflects an ecosystem approach: south and east of the Canadian Shield changed to Ecoregions 6E and 7E (excluding islands in Lake Huron and the St. Marys River)
Policy highlights: natural heritage Coastal Wetlands New protection Policy 2.1.5.f New protection: 2.1.4 Development and site alteration shall not be permitted in: b) significant coastal wetlands 2.1.5 Development and site alteration shall not be permitted in: f) coastal wetlands in Ecoregions 5E, 6E and 7E that are not subject to policy 2.1.4(b), unless it has been demonstrated that there will be no negative impacts on the natural features or their ecological functions Photo Credit: Ministry of Natural Resources
Policy highlights: natural heritage Endangered and Threatened Species Policy 2.1.7 Harmonization with Endangered Species Act, 2007: Development and site alteration shall not be permitted in habitat of endangered species and threatened species, except in accordance with provincial and federal requirements Photo Credit: George K. Peck
Policy highlights: natural heritage Agricultural Uses in Natural Areas Policy 2.1.9 Clarification: Nothing in policy 2.1 is intended to limit the ability of agricultural uses to continue Photo credit: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Water Provincial Policy Statement 2014 WATER Water is key to life and well-being
Provincial Interest: water Water is vital to life and well-being 97.5% of world s water is saltwater of this 2.5%... 69% is found in ice Water resources have a finite capacity to support development and land use change 2.5% is freshwater 30% is groundwater less than 1% is surface water Photo Credit: Environment Canada, 2013 of this 1% of the Earth s surface water... nearly 20% is found in Ontario s Great Lakes Source: Ontario s Great Lakes Strategy Source: Environment Canada, 2009 only 1% is renewed by snow melt and rain each year
Policy highlights: water Great Lakes Protection New policies Vision, Policy 2.0 (Preamble), 4.13 New policies: recognize the importance of the Great Lakes to Ontario s longterm prosperity, environmental health and social well-being recognize agreements between Ontario and other jurisdictions for the Great Lakes
Policy highlights: water Managing Impacts Policy 2.2.1.a Enhanced policy: Planning authorities shall protect, improve or restore the quality and quantity of water by: a) using the watershed as the ecologically meaningful scale for integrated and long-term planning, which can be a foundation for considering cumulative impacts of development
Policy highlights: water Environmental Lake Capacity New requirement Policy 2.2.1.g Enhanced policy: Planning authorities shall protect, improve or restore the quality and quantity of water by: g) ensuring consideration of environmental lake capacity, where applicable
Policy highlights: water Shoreline Identification Policy 2.2.1.c, d Enhanced policy: Planning authorities shall protect, improve or restore the quality and quantity of water by: c) identifying water resource systems consisting of ground water features, hydrologic functions, natural heritage features and areas, and surface water features including shoreline areas, which are necessary for the ecological and hydrological integrity of the watershed d) maintaining linkages and related functions among ground water features, hydrologic functions, natural heritage features and areas, and surface water features including shoreline areas
Agriculture Provincial Policy Statement 2014 AGRICULTURE Agriculture and agri-food cannot continue without a suitable land base
Provincial Interest: Prime Agricultural Areas Agriculture is fundamental to Ontario s economy But it is also much more than this farmers are stewards of Ontario s countryside and provide us with local food
Policy highlights: agriculture Economic Vitality Policies 1.7.1.h and 1.1.4.1.i New policies: recognize the importance of local food and agri-product businesses to long-term economic prosperity encourage opportunities for economic activities on prime agricultural lands to support viable rural economies Photo credit: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Policy highlights: agriculture Economic Vitality Policy 2.3.3.1, Definitions Clarifications to economic opportunities and permitted uses allowed on farms: New policy direction On-Farm Diversified Uses additional uses permitted on farms (e.g. agri-tourism) clarification that these should be limited in area and secondary to agricultural uses Agriculture-Related Uses flexibility for agriculture-related uses (e.g. grain dryers) to service the broader farming area as opposed to a specific farm no longer required to be small scale Photo credit: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Policy highlights: agriculture Designating Prime Agricultural Areas New policy Policy 2.3.2 New policy requirement to designate prime agricultural areas: Planning authorities shall designate prime agricultural areas and specialty crop areas in accordance with guidelines developed by the Province, as amended from time to time
Policy highlights: agriculture Removal of Land from Prime Agricultural Areas Policy 2.3.5 Clarification: Land may only be excluded from prime agricultural areas for settlement boundary identification or expansions Photo credit: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Policy highlights: agriculture Non-Agricultural Uses in Prime Agricultural Areas Policy 2.3.6.1 Planning authorities may only permit non-agricultural uses in prime agricultural areas for: extraction of minerals, petroleum resources and mineral aggregate resources limited non-residential uses (subject to refined conditions next slide) Photo credit: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Policy highlights: agriculture Non-Agricultural Uses in Prime Agricultural Areas Policies 2.3.6.1.b, 2.3.6.2 Limited non-residential uses may only be permitted in prime agricultural areas provided that all of the following are demonstrated: the land does not comprise a specialty crop area the use complies with the minimum distance separation formulae there is an identified need within the planning horizon for additional land alternative locations have been evaluated and no reasonable alternatives have been found Impacts from non-agricultural uses are to be mitigated to the extent feasible Photo credit: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Policy highlights: agriculture Farm Consolidation Policy 2.3.4.1 New policy test: Lot creation in prime agricultural areas is discouraged and may only be permitted for: c) a residence surplus to a farming operation as a result of farm consolidation provided that: 1. The new lot will be limited to a minimum size needed to accommodate the use and appropriate sewage and water services Photo credit: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Minerals, Petroleum and Mineral Aggregates Provincial Policy Statement 2014 MINERALS From toothpaste and paper, to asphalt, steel and plastic, mineral, petroleum and aggregate resources are essential to the production of hundreds of everyday products
Provincial Interest: Minerals, Petroleum and Mineral Aggregates Mineral, petroleum and aggregate resources are essential non-renewable resources used to build our communities, support our industries and sustain our everyday lives
Policy highlights: minerals, petroleum and mineral aggregates Identification New requirement Policy 2.4.2.1 and 2.5.1 Minerals and Petroleum: Mineral mining operations and petroleum resource operations shall be identified and protected from development and activities that would preclude or hinder their expansion or continued use or which would be incompatible for reasons of public health, public safety or environmental impact Mineral Aggregates: Mineral aggregate resources shall be protected for long-term use and, where provincial information is available, deposits of mineral aggregate resources shall be identified
Policy highlights: minerals, petroleum and mineral aggregates Adjacent Lands New Definition Policy 2.5.2.5, Definition In known deposits of mineral aggregate resources and on adjacent lands, development and activities which would preclude or hinder the establishment of new operations or access to the resources shall only be permitted if: a) resource use would not be feasible; or b) the proposed land use or development serves a greater long-term public interest; and c) issues of public health, public safety and environmental impact are addressed
Policy highlights: minerals, petroleum and mineral aggregates Conservation Policy 2.5.2.3 Enhanced policy: Mineral aggregate resource conservation shall be undertaken, including through the use of accessory aggregate recycling facilities within operations, wherever feasible Photo Credit: Ministry of Natural Resources
Policy highlights: minerals, petroleum and mineral aggregates Conservation New Definition New definition for mineral aggregate resource conservation: a) The recovery and recycling of manufactured materials derived from mineral aggregates (e.g. glass, porcelain, brick, concrete, asphalt, slag, etc.), for re-use in construction, manufacturing, industrial or maintenance projects as a substitute for new mineral aggregates; and b) The wise use of mineral aggregates including utilization or extraction of on-site mineral aggregate resources prior to development occurring Photo Credit: Ministry of Natural Resources
Policy highlights: minerals, petroleum and mineral aggregates Rehabilitation Policies 2.5.3.1 and 2.5.3.2 Enhanced policy: Progressive and final rehabilitation shall be required to accommodate subsequent land uses, to promote land use compatibility, to recognize the interim nature of extraction, and to mitigate negative impacts to the extent possible New policy and definition: Comprehensive rehabilitation planning is encouraged where there is a concentration of mineral aggregate operations
Policy highlights: minerals, petroleum and mineral aggregates Extraction in Prime Agricultural Areas Policy 2.5.4.1 New policies: In prime agricultural areas: require rehabilitation back to an agricultural condition rehabilitation must restore same area and soil average soil capability In specialty crop areas: require rehabilitation to restore same area, same average soil capability, achieve same range of specialty crops common in area, and maintain / restore microclimate limit extraction below the water table doesn t require rehabilitation if there is substantial quantity of high quality deposits below water table Photo credit: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Cultural Heritage Provincial Policy Statement 2014 CULTURAL HERITAGE It is not just about old things, pretty things, or physical things It often involves powerful human emotions - Rio Tinto (2011) Why Cultural Heritage Matters. Melbourne, Australia
Provincial Interest: Cultural Heritage Resources Our cultural heritage is valuable and vulnerable It is more than a simple record of our past Frontenac County Court House
Policy highlights: cultural heritage Resource Protection Policies 2.6.2, 2.6.3 Policy enhancements: Development and site alteration shall not be permitted on lands containing archaeological resources or areas of archaeological potential unless significant archaeological resources have been conserved Planning authorities shall not permit development and site alteration on adjacent lands to protected heritage property except where the proposed development and site alteration has been evaluated and it has been demonstrated that the heritage attributes of the protected heritage property will be conserved
Policy highlights: cultural heritage Cultural Planning Policy 2.6.4 New policy: Planning authorities should consider and promote archaeological management plans and cultural plans in conserving cultural heritage and archaeological resources Policies and definitions aligned with the Ontario Heritage Act
Policy highlights: cultural heritage Aboriginal Interests Policy 2.6.5 New policy: Planning authorities shall consider the interests of Aboriginal communities in conserving cultural heritage and archaeological resources
Hazards Provincial Policy Statement 2014 HAZARDS The human and economic costs experienced during emergency events are immeasurable
Provincial Interest: Natural Hazards Natural hazards become natural disasters when people s lives and livelihoods are negatively affected Reducing the potential human risk and economic cost from natural hazards is key to Ontario's long-term social and economic well-being Photo credit: @194lynn, Photos Ontario (2013)
Policy highlights: natural and human-made hazards Climate Change Impacts Policy 3.1.3 New policy: Planning authorities shall consider the potential impacts of climate change that may increase the risk associated with natural hazards
Policy highlights: natural and human-made hazards Natural Hazards Policies 3.1.4, 3.1.5, 3.1.6, Definition Refined policies: reinforce that Ministerial approval is needed for changes to official plan policies or land use designations affecting a Special Policy Area clarify that institutional uses and essential emergency services are not permitted in hazardous lands new definition for two-zone concept
Policy highlights: natural and human-made hazards Wildland Fires New Requirement Policy 3.1.8, Definition New policy: Development shall generally be directed to areas outside of lands that are unsafe for development due to the presence of hazardous forest types for wildland fire Development may however be permitted in lands with hazardous forest types for wildland fire where the risk is mitigated in accordance with wildland fire assessment and mitigation standards Photo Credit: Ministry of Natural Resources, Timmins Fire
Provincial Interest: Human-made Hazards Threats to human health and safety can exist from either past or ongoing uses or activities Reducing the potential human risk and economic cost from human-made hazards is key to Ontario's long-term social and economic well-being
Policy highlights: natural and human-made hazards Human-made Hazards Policies 3.2.1, 3.2.2 Refinements: Recognizes that other measures can be used to address and mitigate known or suspected hazards Sites with contaminants in land or water shall be assessed