Oakville Beaver, 3 Feb 2022, p. 4

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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, F eb ru ar y 3, 20 22 | 4 At Village Orthodontics in Oakville, we specialize in beautiful smiles using clear aligners and traditional braces. New Patients Welcome Schedule your complimentary consultation today! 647-496-1424 2-2983 Westoak Trails Blvd. Oakville villageortho.ca Book your Personalized Smile Consultation today *APR. Subject to change without notice. Conditions apply. %*%2.00 90-DAY TFSA&RRSP FirstOntario.com/GICspecials Call us Email us ing don't grow - we know the region has to grow. But it's a question of how you're going to grow and being wise." The group contends that Halton's growth can be ac- commodated on the thou- sands of acres that have al- ready been approved for de- velopment, and that plan- ners should focus more on increasing density within the current urban bound- ary. "The decision to put an end to, or power forward with urban sprawl in Hal- ton, will serve as a pivotal example of how serious our leaders are about the cli- mate emergency they unanimously declared," said BurlingtonGreen exec- utive director Amy Schnurr, a supporter of the Stop Sprawl Halton efforts. For Campbellville poul- try farmer John Opsteen, protecting prime agricul- tural land in the growth planning process is para- mount. "I think we have to look at good farmland as a scarce resource. And once it's gone, we've lost that re- source forever," he said. "It doesn't matter to me who owns it or if it's even being farmed now or rented out -- it's more (about) the po- tential. But if it's paved over, it's done. That's where my concern is." But the sentiment isn't shared by all farming fami- lies in Halton. Marg Saliba co-owns a farm on the Eighth Line of Milton with her sisters now that their parents have passed away. She supports the preferred growth con- cept and expressed concern that current aging farmers will have nobody willing to take over when they retire due to high equipment costs, the 24/7 demands of a farm, uncertainty around income and more. "In my humble opinion, if you save the farmland, it will be for naught in the fu- ture when there are no more farmers. The land will stay vacant," she said in a letter she recently penned to councillors. "Milton needs these em- ployment lands to ensure employment for its citi- zens. Consider the employ- ment opportunities, the sal- aries and benefits one would get from industry versus farming." There are also differing opinions on the proposed growth plan around the council table and even at Queen's Park. Halton Hills councillor Jane Fogal and Milton councillor Colin Best -- who've spoken out against urban sprawl -- recently joined Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner in a virtual press conference, where he called on Halton to say no to the preferred growth concept and protect farmland. "Urban sprawl is not the solution to the housing cri- sis," said Schreiner. "It is expensive, terrible for the environment, and destroys farmlands and wetlands." But others, like Halton Hills councillor Clark Som- erville, have voiced support for expanding urban boundaries. He contends that Halton Hills doesn't have enough employment land to support new job op- portunities, and space will be needed in the future for essentials like a new Georgetown hospital. "You can have sustain- able development and an expansion to the urban boundary at the same time," he noted. In a statement to Metro- land Media, Halton plan- ning staff said a land needs assessment identified a shortfall of space in the ex- isting urban areas for 15,000 ground-related housing units, such as single and semi-detached homes, and 24,000 jobs. While accommodating these homes and jobs in the existing urban areas was considered, staff said it would result in "a high pro- portion of apartment/con- dominium units that would not meet the need for a di- verse range and mix of housing options for Halton residents at all stages of life, household sizes and in- comes, as directed by the province." "It would also not be able to accommodate jobs re- quiring industrial-type buildings, like high-tech manufacturing," staff not- ed in the statement. While regional council was originally set to vote on the matter Feb. 9, the deci- sion has been rescheduled to a future meeting, with the February session now serving as a council work- shop. - With files from Man- soor Tanweer STORY BEHIND THE STORY:: With much atten- tion focusing on Halton's growth plan in recent weeks, we wanted to take a closer look at how residents and politicians feel before the significant decision is made. NEWS Continued from page 3 OPINIONS DIFFER AMONG FARMERS, COUNCILLORS "I think we have to look at good farmland as a scarce resource. And once it's gone, we've lost that resource forever." - John Opsteen

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