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Farmers complain Natural Heritage System too restrictive 7 · Friday, December 11, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Continued from page 5 "Last year about two acres of trees were planted on my farm adjoining the existing bush," Milton farmer June Barnes stated in a submission to the committee. "Under proposed ROPA 38, I would not be allowed to locate a new farm building in this area without (doing) an environmental impact assessment (EIA)." Regional staff, and defenders of the NHS, maintain policies in the Official Plan won't restrict farmers from continuing their work, including in the linkage areas. Halton's planning director, Ron Glenn, has said the Region's requirements for when an EIA is necessary is less stringent than provincial policies. However, it has been clear from multiple public meetings this past year that many farmers don't agree. At last week's meeting, Halton resident Peter Lambrick said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton had promised at a previous public meeting in the hamlet of Brookville northwest of Milton that the NHS wouldn't harm farmers. "We are going to be worse off and I can only hope you will be a man of your word," Lambrick told Burton. "I haven't yet seen a single, discreet objective difference that causes harm," Burton responded. "And I'll be good about what I said if you'll be good enough to specify in concrete detail of the harm that you believe it's (the NHS) caused. Milton Town Councillor, and Nassagaweya resident, Jan Mowbray, disputed Burton's assessment. "There will be an impact with this NHS," she said. "Can every farmer and farm group be wrong? I don't think so." Halton Hills Regional Councillor Jane Fogal echoed the latter point, when she took aim at Oakville councillors pushing for the NHS, though their constituents don't farm. "I think it's irresponsible to think you understand everything about another person's livelihood," said Fogal. She and her Halton Hills colleagues have supported keeping the NHS, but on a secondary map included in the Official Plan, with the NHS designations on the main map replaced with an expansion of the agricultural/rural designation. Ironically, that was Regional staff's original idea earlier this year. However, Oakville Councillor Allan Elgar managed to get a motion passed by council last winter to put the NHS on the main map as a designation by itself. He argued Oakville has learned the Ontario Municipal Board respects designations on the main map as being of prime importance. Regional council can approve ROPA 38 at its meeting Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. For more information, visit http://halton.ca/PPW/Planning/sustainablehalton/council.htm#Reports_to_Council. KENNEDY FORD WE'RE GIVING AWAY... OAKVILLE'S ORIGINAL DEALER $ 0 BUY A NEW OR USED VEHICLE IN DECEMBER TO QUALIFY * 5000cash 00 % $ 10,000 QEW WYECROFT QEW @ DORVAL 280 SOUTH SERVICE RD. OAKVILLE 905.845.1646 www.kennedyford.ca *New or used retail sales only. Fleet, as is. and lease buyouts excluded.See Kennedy Ford for details. DORVAL VAL