Introduction
Internationally,
Smart Growth refers to protecting key environmental
features and functions; reducing urban sprawl that might otherwise
consume agricultural lands; and creating compact, transit-friendly,
and energy-efficient communities with an enhanced diversity
of social and economic functions. For the Don watershed, Smart
Growth means urban intensification.
FODE
supports Smart Growth and is a member of the Ontario
Smart Growth Network, but is concerned that urban intensification
under the new Official Plan may, unless carefully applied,
result in the loss of critically important and sensitive natural
areas that exist within urban areas.
We are concerned that extensive intensification may also result
in suffocating densities, overwhelmed infrastructure, over-stressed
greenspace and natural heritage features, the location of
hard infrastructure in valley corridors, and increases in
pollution, noise, and urban heat island effects. All of these
impacts could make life less enjoyable for human residents
and the existing natural landscape of the Don watershed.
Recent
Position Papers include:
Smart Growth
Local
Development Issues
2003:
Burke Brooke
In
addition to the general concerns we have expressed about urban
intensification,
FODE has considerable and specific concerns about the impact
of potential urban intensification around Burke Brooke, a
tributary to the West Don flowing through Sherwood Park, crossing
Bayview south of SunnyBrook Hospital and flowing into Serena
Gundy Park.
Our
initial concerns were contained in an article, ESA
Threatened in North Leaside, that appeared in the Fall,
2002, At The Forks, and that described the creation
of the Burke Brook Task Force. During the first half of 2003,
FODE posted several pieces of correspondence to the City regarding
Burke Brook on the website, but removed most of these in July,
as the public consultation process wound down. Below please
find:
Our
Final Submission
on Burke Brooke, dated, July 8, 2003.
(36 KB, PDF file)
