CCKT still opposing variance

The following letter, addressed to Mayor Margaret Black and King Township councillors, was submitted to the Sentinel for publication.

Concerned Citizens of King Township (CCKT) has previously expressed our disagreement with the Committee of Adjustment's approval to the request from Country Day School (CDS) for permission to erect a 15.5-meter structure in front of their main buildings despite lack of adherence to King Township zoning bylaws.

We are now writing to request your support to stop a much more significant violation, specifically the contravention of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (ORMCP).

If CDS is allowed to erect such a structure anywhere on their property, the ORMCP is being violated.

Under ORMCP land designations, the CDS site includes both natural core area and natural linkage area. In both of these areas the only possible relevant allowed use is low-intensity recreational use.

Section 37 of the plan says "low intensity recreational uses are recreational uses that have minimal impact on the natural environment, and require . . . few, if any buildings."

Section 37 (part 2) provides conditions about erecting small-scale structures. Although I doubt that anyone would suggest that the proposed soccer dome of 3,500 square meters is a "small" structure, it is worthwhile to note that in this same section the context of small structures is defined as being "accessor[ies] to trails, boardwalks, foot bridges, fences, docks and picnic facilities." Clearly the proposed soccer dome is not a small-scale structure as envisioned in ORMCP.

The proposed soccer dome would be classified as a major recreational use in ORMCP. Such application is prohibited in both natural core area and natural linkage area of the Oak Ridges Moraine.

Section 41 of ORMCP is also relevant to the CDS request as their site has key natural heritage features, specifically wetlands. Part 4 of section 41 says that all new, upgrading or extending of transportation, infrastructure and utilities uses are prohibited where there is a key natural heritage feature.

How can the King Township mayor and council agree to be accomplices to violating the ORMCP?

The rolling hills of the moraine are King's most prominent geographical feature. ORMCP is the mechanism for protecting the ecological and hydrological integrity of the moraine area. The ORMCP has an additional goal of ensuring that only land uses that maintain, improve or restore the ecological and hydrological functions of the Oak Ridges Moraine Area are permitted.

Debbie Schaefer, CCKT Vice-chair