Background Report - Town of Georgina

TOWN OF GEORGINA, SUTTON SECONDARY PLAN REVIEW STUDY
BACKGROUND REPORT
could be improved through the removal of barriers, treatment of urban stormwater runoff, groundwater recharge,
bank/floodplain restoration, and riparian plantings to increase shading.
Furthermore, the Black River provides an important north-south riparian corridor function that provides a linkage
between the Oak Ridges Moraine to the south and the Lake Simcoe shoreline to the north. The large, contiguous
forest block in the north-west corner of the Study Area provides an important connection with the Maskinonge River
corridor to the west, which provides a southerly connection to the Holland River watershed. Combined, these core
forest/wetland blocks and corridors comprise a key component of the Greenbelt Plan’s Natural Heritage System
within the Town of Georgina and York Region.
The Black River corridor and the large forest/wetland blocks within the Study Area are identified as core elements
of the Town of Georgina and York Region Greenlands System and includes evaluated wetlands such as the Willow
Beach Swamp Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW) , the Vachell Swamp PSW, the Mossington Park PSW,
the Sibbald Point Wetland Complex (Locally Significant Wetland - LSW) and the Environmentally Significant Area’s
(ESA) within or adjacent to the Study Area including Mossington Park, and two shoals along the Lake Simcoe
shoreline.
Watercourses and flood / fill areas are regulated by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) within
the Study Area and requires that for any development to proceed in areas under their regulation such as river or
stream valley, a 15 m allowance from the greater of stable top of bank, floodline or meander belt width and wetlands,
including 120 m from the edge of a PSW and 30 m from the edge of a non-PSW will require a permit from the
Conservation Authority to proceed.
It is important to note that the Sutton Secondary Plan Study Area’s core woodlands and wetlands are adjacent to the
Greenbelt Plan’s Natural Heritage System and that natural heritage features extend into the Study Area providing
core woodland and linkage functions.
Opportunities and Constraints Overview
Based on the review of the existing environmental conditions and key features within and adjacent to the Study
Area, the following features would require protection with respect to future development:
• Black River and Lake Simcoe;
• Provincially Significant and Locally Significant Wetland complexes;
• Environmentally Sensitive Areas (wetlands, upland forest, shoreline shoals);
• Large, contiguous forest blocks (core woodlands, greenlands);
• Corridors and connecting linkages – Black River, large forest blocks; and,
• Environmental buffers/setbacks (stream channels, wetlands, upland forest edge).
The basis of the environmental protection framework developed for the Sutton Secondary Plan Review Study is the
LSRCA Natural Heritage System for Lake Simcoe Watershed (Final Draft - Beacon Environmental and LSRCA, April
2007). There are three levels of high constraint which consists of the following:
• Level 1: Provincially Significant. No Development Intrusion;
• Level 2: Provincially Significant. No Development Intrusion; and,
• Level 3: Watershed Significant. No Development Intrusion.
A fourth level of low constraint has also been indicated in Figure 4 of Appendix B, as follows:
• Level 4: Low Constraint. Existing Developed Areas, Agricultural Lands and Cultural Vegetation.
The Planning Partnership • LGL Limited • Poulos & Chung • SCS Consulting • Cushman & Wakefield LePage | July 2008
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