Resolving Gridlock 

Recently, the Province approved 5,600 homes on the Oak Ridges Moraine in Richmond Hill. That is approximately another 12,000 cars adding to the gridlock unless we start investing in an efficient, economic, and reliable, public transit system. In part, that is the intention of the recently proposed Regional Official Plan Amendment (ROPA 43): to create a 25 year plan for future urban development which supports easy access to public transit.

ROPA 43 is encouraging all nine municipalities across York Region to determine for themselves which areas are best suited to concentrated populations and which areas need to be protected over the next 25 years. In Richmond Hill, much of this work has already been done and Council has approved many condominiums within walking distance of our major transit facilities. Look at Hwy. 7 and Yonge.

We need a strong, concise plan showing where development will be allowed. We need to reduce the number of costly battles at the Ontario Municipal Board. We need to assure potential investors that our public transit system will be economic because it will be readily accessible. We also need to protect our existing neighbourhoods, our greenspace, and our historic areas.

Doing nothing is not an option. We can continue to fight development applications using outdated or inconsistent planning by-laws or we can design a Region-wide plan to control areas of development and help us to provide transit and municipal services to accommodate growth over the next 25 years.