‘Symbolic’ vote leaves Bright’s Grove residential expansion unsettled

Sarnia earned a symbolic win April 5 at Lambton County council but still faces a battle to open 87 hectares of farmland near Bright’s Grove to new housing development.

The land was designated for settlement in a new official plan the city adopted last summer but that portion of the plan was rejected by county planning staff who have been given the power to approve the plans under provincial rules. The county said the area for new development near Bright’s Grove didn’t match with settlement areas in the county’s official plan.

As part of the approval process, the county must ensure official plans of its municipalities are consistent with Ontario’s Planning Act and Lambton’s official plan, said a report from Lambton’s planning department.

The city has appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

At the meeting, county council backed the city position in a vote, although it was noted at the meeting the motion was only symbolic since the issue is now before the tribunal.

In a separate vote, county council asked its planning staff to report back by June on a process for reopening the county’s official plan to address issues, including the current boundaries for settlement areas in Sarnia and other municipalities in Lambton.

Ken Melanson, the county’s planning manager, said the “best way forward” is to reopen the county’s official plan.

Along with the need to update that document, “we’ve also been tracking a number of settlement issues across the county,” including in Warwick Township, St. Clair Township, Plympton-Wyoming and Lambton Shores, he said.

Melanson said there’s also a need to look at the issue of population projections in the county’s official plan.

“One of the things that we’ve been seeing, as we go through updates to some of our local plans, is that many of those communities are now having population growth far outside projected numbers within the county official plan,” he said.

Those numbers determine what the “land supply need” is in municipalities, Melanson said.

“We should be making this a top priority,” said Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley.

“For the good of this county we need to expedite getting through these areas that are looking to grow.”

Sarnia city council is expected to consider its options when it meets April 17, including asking the province to intervene using its More Homes For Everyone legislation to allow development of the land near Bright’s Grove.

Rob Longo, president of the Sarnia Lambton Real Estate Board, has backed seeking provincial intervention.

County council heard from representatives of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and Climate Action Sarnia Lambton on the issue.

Crispin Colvin, vice-president of the federation, said Lambton is home to “some of the best” farmland in Canada.

“Today, we’re losing 319 acres (129 hectares) a day” of farmland to uses other than producing food, Colvin said.

“When you’re looking at projects for growth, when you’re looking at expanding boundaries, intensify,” he said.

“Go up, not out. Try to preserve as much land as you possibly can so that we can grow the food for the population that is coming to Ontario.”

James Oatway, with Climate Action Sarnia Lambton, said when the roads and other services needed to open the land in Bright’s Grove for development, as well as its environmental impacts, are considered, “the cost and negative consequences outweigh the benefits.”

“You cannot tell people where they have to live,” said Sarnia Coun. Bill Dennis. “They have options.”

That’s one reason why new housing development near Camlachie, just beyond Bright’s Grove and the city boundary, “has done so well,” he said.

“People want to live out that way. It’s a beautiful area.”