Background Report - Town of Georgina

Sutton Secondary Plan Review Study May 2008
Existing Environmental Conditions and Opportunities/Constraints Analysis
Project No. TA4468
Areas requiring a permit under the Regulation include:
• River or stream valley plus 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.
Lands within Regulated Areas require a permit from the Conservation Authority to proceed with any
development. The regulated areas do not constitute a required buffer from a feature but act as a trigger
for further environmental work to confirm limits of development and appropriate setbacks/buffers from
features such as floodline, stable top of bank, wetlands, riparian vegetation limits and meander belt.
3.10 Significant Woodlands
Many of the forest blocks within and immediately adjacent to the study area are of a sufficient size,
integrity and ecological function that they meet the test of significance under the Provincial Policy
Statement and Region of York guidelines. Beyond the limits of the Secondary Plan study area, many of
these woodlands are designated as part of the Greenbelt Plan Natural Heritage System.
The size criteria used for identifying woodland significance within the study area was based on the
following ranking system (Source: LSRCA 2007):
• Provincially Significant (Level 1) - > 25 ha in area;
• Provincially Significant (Level 2) - > 10 to < 25 ha in area; and,
• Watershed Significant (Level 3) - > 4 ha and < 10 ha.
3.11 Greenbelt Plan
The Sutton Secondary Plan area is located within the Provincial Greenbelt Plan and is designated as an
existing Town/Village. An external river valley connection is identified along the Black River due to its
linkage function between the Lake Simcoe shoreline to the North and the Oak Ridges Moraine to the
south. The significant woodlands and wetlands that flank the boundary of the Secondary Plan area are
designated as part of the Greenbelt Plan Natural Heritage System. Many of these natural heritage features
extend into the Sutton Secondary Plan area providing significant habitat and linkage functions.
The Greenbelt Plan policies call for a minimum 30 m buffer from significant natural heritage features
such as woodlands, wetlands, and fish habitat.
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