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OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, October 2, 2009 · 22 Your Halton Connection Oct. `09 www.halton.ca Planning for Sustainability: Enhancing Our Quality of Life by Regional Chair Gary Carr Sustainability and sustainable development are top-of-mind terms and issues for people these days. They wonder when government, corporations and individuals will move forward to build a sustainable future in their community. Through its Regional Official Plan Amendment 38 (ROPA 38), Halton Region has chosen a sustainable future that will continue to enhance people's quality of life. It focuses on planned growth and building sustainable, healthy communities that will improve your ability to live, work, play and retire in Halton. Once approved by Regional Council, it will define Halton's new urban areas to 2031, identify an enhanced Natural Heritage System and improve support for agriculture. This month, Halton Region will be taking ROPA 38 to public consultation. To make sure that happens, Regional Council and the Region's planning staff need your assistance and input. They would like to hear what you think about the proposals outlined in ROPA 38. Between now and ROPA 38 Public Meetings December Wednesday, October 14, 2009 2, 2009, you ÏRMÏÏN K Ï.PCQCLR?RGMLÏ?RÏÏN K have five +GJRMLÏ1CLGMPQhÏARGTGRWÏ!CLRPCÏ opportunities Ï!FGJBhQÏ"PGTCÏ+GJRMLÏ to have your voice heard Thursday, October 15, 2009 in person. ÏRMÏÏN K Ï.PCQCLR?RGMLÏ?RÏÏN K Come to one 2FCÏ&?JJÏ+MJBÌ+?QRCPQÏ1NMPRQNJCVÏ of Halton's Ï%SCJNFÏ1RPCCRÏ&UWÏÏ public Halton Hills consultation Tuesday, October 20, 2009 sessions ÏRMÏÏN K Ï.PCQCLR?RGMLÏ?RÏÏN K this month, 1R Ï CPL?BCRRCÏ1AFMMJÏ or join the Ï&CPGR?ECÏ5?WÏ-?ITGJJCÏ Planning and Public Works Wednesday, October 21, 2009 Committee ÏRMÏÏN K Ï.PCQCLR?RGMLÏ?RÏÏN K Statutory 1R Ï(MFLÏ1AFMMJÏÏ P?LRÏ1RPCCRÏ Public SPJGLERMLÏ Meeting on December 2nd (see sidebar). If you can't make any of those dates, send your thoughts in writing before November 12, 2009. This fall when you're sitting in your backyard, hiking through one of Halton's many natural areas, or visiting one of the local farmers' markets, think what future you want for this community. Likely, it's one where the air is clean, the forests are green and food is locally produced. Then, help determine how best to get there. Come to a public meeting, jump into the discussion at a public open house, or write a letter or email and give us your thoughts. Help make Halton's future a truly sustainable one. To learn more about ROPA 38, or to understand '@KSNMÐ1DFHNMiRÐ.EÎBH@KÐ/K@MÐ LDMCLDMSÐOQNBDRRÐFNÐ to VVVG@KSNMBaÐNQÐDL@HKÐ/DQQX5@FMHMH'@KSNMB@Ð NQÐB@KKÐ ÐDWSÐÐNQÐ ' +3.-Ð Public Consultation Explained 3QGLEÏ0-.ÏÏ?QÏ?LÏCV?KNJCÏFCPChQÏ?ÏOSGAIÏQSKK?PWÏ of how public consultation generally works in Halton 0CEGML Ï#TCPWÏAMLQSJR?RGMLÏNPMACQQÏGQÏSLGOSCÏ?LBÏ A?LÏBGDDCPÏMLÏNMGLRQÏQSAFÏ?QÏLMRGÍA?RGMLÏNCPGMBQÏ?LBÏ number of public meetings. What's In It For You? .S@JGAÏAMLQSJR?RGMLÏGQÏRFCÏICWÏRMÏ@?J?LACBÏRFMSEFRDSJÏ ?LBÏPCJCT?LRÏNS@JGAÏNMJGAW Ï-RFCPUGQCÏEMTCPLKCLRQÏ UMSJBLhRÏILMUÏGDÏRFCGPÏNMJGAGCQÏK?RRCPCBÏGDÏRFCWÏK?BCÏ sense and if they had the right priorities. How Does It Happen? .S@JGAÏAMLQSJR?RGMLÏMLÏ0-.ÏÏGLÏ&?JRMLÏ0CEGMLÏ follows four main steps. 1. Notice ­ 2CJJGLEÏWMSÏGLÏ?BT?LACÏRFPMSEFÏLCUQN?NCPÏ ?BTCPRGQGLEÏUFCLÏ&?JRMLhQÏPCNPCQCLR?RGTCQÏUMSJBÏJGICÏ to meet with you. 2. Reports ­ Releasing reports to you before public AMLQSJR?RGMLÏQMÏRF?RÏWMSÏA?LÏSLBCPQR?LBÏUF?RhQÏ proposed. 3. Meetings ­ .PMTGBGLEÏD?ACÌRMÌD?ACÏKCCRGLEQÏ where you can talk with Council Members and NJ?LLGLEÏAMKKGRRCCÏ?LBÏNMJGAWÏQR?DD Ï'LÏECLCP?JÏNS@JGAÏ consultation is structured to allow for informal talk RGKCÏDMPK?JÏNPCQCLR?RGMLQÏ/ÏRGKCÏ?LBÏUP?NÏSNÏ AMLTCPQ?RGMLQÏUGRFÏPCEGML?JÏQR?DD 4. Results ­ Reporting the results of public consultation to you. Regional staff write a report to 0CEGML?JÏ!MSLAGJÏRF?RÏQFMUQÏRFCÏDCCB@?AIÏPCACGTCBÏ and makes recommendations for regional policy. A Little History... In 2005, the province approved legislation and policies about growth in the GTA. The main documents coming out of this work were the Places to Grow Plan, the Greenbelt Plan and the Provincial Policy Statement. Soon after, the planning staff at Halton Region, in cooperation with the Local Municipalities of Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville, Conservation Authorities, and the Niagara Escarpment Commission, began the process of researching and creating Halton's response to these specific provincial requirements. The Region called this process Sustainable Halton. Sustainable Halton is now in its final phase ­ where all of the research, ideas and recommendations are integrated into Halton's Regional Official Plan. Who Comes? #TCPWMLCÏDPMKÏ?APMQQÏRFCÏAMKKSLGRW Ï0CQGBCLRQÏ @SQGLCQQÏMULCPQÏAMKKSLGRWÏEPMSNQÏBCTCJMNCPQÏ KCBG?Ï!MSLAGJÏKCK@CPQÏ0CEGML?JÏQR?DDÏ?LBÏCVNCPRÏ ?BTGQMPQ Want to Learn More? $GLBÏ&?JRMLhQÏÏNS@JGAÏAMLQSJR?RGMLÏNPGLAGNJCQÏ?RÏ www.halton.ca/about/public_consultation.htm Meetings at Halton Region Headquarters Oct 7, 9:30 a.m. Oct. 12 Oct. 20, 9:30 a.m. Oct. 21, 9:30 a.m. Oct. 21, 1:30 p.m. Oct 28, 9:30 a.m. Regional Council Meeting -DDGACQÏAJMQCBÏDMPÏ2F?LIQEGTGLE &C?JRFÏÏ1MAG?JÏ1CPTGACQÏ!RCÏ .J?LLGLEÏÏ.S@JGAÏ5MPIQÏ!RC BKGLGQRP?RGMLÏÏ$GL?LACÏ!RC Regional Council Meeting Getting It Right It's a bit of a balancing act to make sense of all of this research, the provincial requirements, and expressed public and private opinions. Halton Region has to conform to the provincial growth requirements, ensure that the appropriate financial commitments are made and enhance the quality of life that everyone enjoys in Halton today. We welcome your feedback. Contact Access Halton at accesshalton@halton.ca "G?JÏÏMPÏÌÌÏkÏ2MJJÏDPCCÏÌÌÌÏkÏ227ÏÌÌÏkÏUUU F?JRML A?Ï 2FCÏ0CEGML?JÏ+SLGAGN?JGRWÏMDÏ&?JRMLÏkÏÏ PMLRCÏ0B Ï-?ITGJJCÏ-LR?PGMÏ *+Ï* +CCRGLEQÏA?LÏ@CÏTGCUCBÏ?RÏwww.halton.ca This page has been donated by this newspaper to communicate important information to Halton residents at no cost to taxpayers.