Town of Richmond Hill Draft New Official Plan - Chapter 4

LAND USE POLICIES
4.10.5.1 LAND USE
It is the policy of Council that:
1. The following uses shall be permitted in the Natural Core designation
shown on Schedule A2 (Land Use) of this Plan:
a. Fish, wildlife and forest management;
b. Conservation projects and flood and erosion control projects other
than stormwater management works;
c. Essential transportation, infrastructure, and utilities, subject to the
policies in Section 4.10.5.1.2 of this Plan;
d. Low-intensity recreational uses;
e. Unserviced parks; and
f. Uses accessory to the uses set out in policy 4.10.5.1.1 (a) through (e).
2. The establishment, expansion or upgrade of transportation, infrastructure
or utilities may be permitted in Natural Core areas where the need for
the project can be demonstrated and only where there is no reasonable
alternative, and planning, design, construction and management practices
are incorporated so that they:
a. Do not adversely affect the ecological integrity or hydrological integrity
of the Greenway System;
b. Maximize the amount of natural vegetation cover restored within the
right-of-way of the proposed infrastructure, transportation or utility
use; and
c. Maintain and, wherever possible, improve the ability of plant and
animal species to move within the Natural Core area of the Greenway
System.
3. Existing stormwater management works that abut or are located within
Natural Core areas will continue to be used for the purpose they were
designed for and will be evaluated and, where appropriate, may be
modified to implement naturalization and/or restoration plans to enhance
the ecological integrity or hydrological integrity of Natural Core areas and
the larger Greenway System.
4. Minor expansions to an existing building or structure may be permitted
only where the proponent of development can demonstrate that:
a. The proposed expansion will not adversely affect the ecological
integrity or hydrological integrity of the Greenway System; and
b. The proposed expansion will enhance the ecological integrity or
hydrological integrity of the site and/or the larger Greenway System.
5. The limits of Natural Core areas are based on the information available at
the time of the adoption of this Plan. The outer boundaries of these areas
may be refined as a result of a Natural Heritage Evaluation completed in
accordance with Section 5.24 this Plan.
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DRAFT MAY 6, 2010
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RICHMOND HILL OFFICIAL PLAN