Land Use Planning

Subdivision proposals, zoning changes and other development proposals, as well as municipal planning documents, severances and minor variances are approved by municipalities. ERCA provides information and expertise that help the municipalities and the developers meet provincial policy requirements while ensuring the protection of habitat and other environmental features within the watershed. ERCA also ensures that planning documents consider matters pertaining to water such as flooding and erosion hazards.

ERCA offers input to and review of:

• municipal planning applications (approx. 2000 annually)
• official plans
• special supporting studies
• landowner contact
• mapping information
• major development proposals
• ERCA assists in resolving issues pertaining to:
  • stormwater managment
  • flood control
  • coastal engineering
  • environmental impact studies
  • habitat protection

Because Conservation Authorities operate on a watershed basis rather than according to municipal boundaries, and because land management upstream affects water quality downstream, there are many benefits of ERCA's involvement in land use planning and development issues, such as:

• Protection of new development against property damage due to flooding and erosion
• Protection of natural areas, water quality, stream flows, habitats, shoreline processes, etc. in an integrated, watershed based fashion
• Avoidance of costly remedial efforts in the future
• Clear, early input pro-actively resolves problems and avoids delays at the final approval stage
• Municipalities, residents, developers and consultants all benefit from ERCA's information and expertise