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While protection is an imperative step, Cumberland Coun. Rob Jellett says the province should be talking to property owners prior to cementing new designations and then offer monetary reimbursement if land designations impact their uses.
“It’s for the betterment of society … but they should be compensating private landowners,” he adds.
Property owners were informed by the city earlier this month the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) recently identified additional provincially-significant wetlands to be zoned within Ottawa. As part of provincial policy, city staff are currently reviewing the newly-protected spaces, and will prepare an Official Plan amendment – to include the wetlands by next year – for public review this fall.
The province “has made it very clear that every five years … we have to update the Official Plan,” Jellett continues, adding that the next version of the plan is expected in April or May. “We have to … we have no choice.”
Across the city, approximately 1,500 properties are impacted by the change, with Jellett estimating a one per cent increase in wetland space – or 120 hectares of land – in the east end. The largest portions are in Mer Bleue and around Petrie Island, which comes as no surprise, he says, with one an internationally-recognized bog and the other already a protected wetland. Much of the land is already owned by government or the NCC, Jellett adds, with smaller, newly-designated areas also appearing east and south of Vars and near Carlsbad Springs.
Approximately 50 east-end property owners have received letters explaining that a portion of their land – or land nearby – has recently been designated as provincially-significant wetland, he continues. For many landowners, the new designation won’t have a major impact, Jellett explains, though issues like property uses and how much has been designated will play a role.
“Every case is different,” he says. “It’s a case-by-case basis.”
So far, no complaints have been received from east-end residents about the changes, Jellett continues, adding that the situation is a much larger concern in the west end – throughout most of Cumberland ward, the province simply added an extra 10 feet to an already-protected area.
From a city-wide perspective “wetlands are extremely important” and act as an area of water change for local groundwater, he says. “They’re called the ‘lungs of the city’ for good reason.”
Representatives for the MNR could not be reached by press time.
(C) “Orleans Star”