A well-known environmental organization that played a key role in stopping the Pickering Airport is urging local residents to take action and call for “immediate provincial intervention” against the rapid approval of development plans in northeast Pickering.
“We’re asking all residents of Pickering and Durham Region to reach out to Mayor Kevin Ashe and city council right away – especially before the special council meeting on March 30 – and demand they put a stop to this ‘expedited’ approval process and return to the legally required ‘Pickering Forward’ approach,” stated Stop Sprawl Durham co-leader Helen Brenner. “The council has a fundamental responsibility to ensure our food security, flood safety, and financial stability before sacrificing our future at the cost of taxpayers.”
Stop Sprawl Durham feels that Pickering is “abandoning” provincial environmental protection laws in its haste to develop 4,356 acres of land by attempting a “procedural bypass” for quick urban expansion in the largely rural northeast, following requests from a developer-led group known as the Northeast Pickering Landowners’ Group.
The group argues that this development goes against guidelines set forth in a 2024 provincial planning statement as well as Durham Region’s Official plan – legal protections designed to safeguard citizens from “financial instability and environmental disaster,” according to Stop Sprawl’s other co-leader, Abdullah Mir.
By ignoring these necessary reviews, the city risks creating a situation of “planned blindness” regarding fiscal and public safety concerns, he mentioned, which includes paving over Class 1 agricultural land at the source of Carruthers Creek.
Stop Sprawl Durham also believes that Pickering is “manufacturing a need” for sprawl while overlooking an accumulating debt nearing half a billion dollars.
“This will lead to financial trouble. This sprawling development will undoubtedly mean higher property taxes for people living in Pickering and Durham just to cover the huge costs needed to build infrastructure from scratch in northeast Pickering,” Mir warned. “I urge city council members to reject this irresponsible proposal and focus on developing already serviced urban areas that can meet our growth needs without burdening future taxpayers with debt.”
According to Stop Sprawl Durham, there are three major deficiencies with this proposal:
Growing Layers of Debt: The city already has an increasing $498 million capital deficit just for completing current Seaton development. Adding more expansion without conducting an official Fiscal Impact Assessment risks ‘debt stacking,’ leading to property tax and water bill hikes for all Durham residents. Manufactured Land Need vs. Market Reality: The city has ignored advice from regional staff indicating housing targets could be achieved using only 947 hectares across the region, instead opting for a high-growth model suggested by Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) requiring 1,763 hectares. Unmitigated Flood Risk: Paving over Carruthers Creek’s headwaters is expected to cause a 113 percent increase in peak flood flows. Ignoring regulations meant for protecting this area puts residents downstream in Ajax at “heightened, unaddressed risk.”
Stop Sprawl Durham emphasized that even though the province has given Strong Mayor Powers, “these do not provide an exemption from the Planning Act or provincial protections.”
The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing holds a legal obligation to step in when municipal actions clash with provincial interests – specifically about flood safety, food security, and fiscal health.
The Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation have also expressed opposition toward developing lands in northeast Pickering for long-term housing without proper consultations since 2021. The First Nation urges Durham Region to uphold their bilateral agreement renewed last July which formalizes both parties’ commitment toward building strong partnerships through meaningful engagement.
Chief Kelly La Rocca wrote on February 10th in a letter signed by her and her councillors addressed to the region’s Committee of the Whole asking them not enter into any Environmental Assessment funding agreement with Northeast Pickering Landowners Group regarding services needed for supporting developments there.
“We’ve been willing partners but our concerns about lack of proper consultation haven’t been addressed. Despite our ongoing efforts documenting opposition against northeast Pickering’s development.. meaningful consultation hasn’t taken place,” La Rocca along with her councillors stated within their letter.
The First Nation officially submitted a request last November asking housing ministry officials for an individual comprehensive environmental assessment aimed at addressing “potential adverse impacts” stemming from developing these lands; however their request remains “unaddressed.”
“It’s vital that Durhan Region understands MSIFN hasn’t entered into any kind relationship agreement with City Of Picking,” La Rocca continued on stating,”and any claims otherwise simply aren’t true.”
The letter pointed out four aspects breached under Bilateral Agreement highlighting Scugog Island’s stance towards northeast Pickerings hasn’t shifted either way.”It’s crucial now more than ever that Durhan Region doesn’t take steps pushing forward initiation EA process.”
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The Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation have also expressed opposition toward developing lands in northeast Pickering for long-term housing without proper consultations since 2021. The First Nation urges Durham Region to uphold their bilateral agreement renewed last July which formalizes both parties’ commitment toward building strong partnerships through meaningful engagement.
Chief Kelly La Rocca wrote on February 10th in a letter signed by her and her councillors addressed to the region’s Committee of the Whole asking them not enter into any Environmental Assessment funding agreement with Northeast Pickering Landowners Group regarding services needed for supporting developments there.
“We’ve been willing partners but our concerns about lack of proper consultation haven’t been addressed. Despite our ongoing efforts documenting opposition against northeast Pickering’s development.. meaningful consultation hasn’t taken place,” La Rocca along with her councillors stated within their letter.
The First Nation officially submitted a request last November asking housing ministry officials for an individual comprehensive environmental assessment aimed at addressing “potential adverse impacts” stemming from developing these lands; however their request remains “unaddressed.”
“It’s vital that Durhan Region understands MSIFN hasn’t entered into any kind relationship agreement with City Of Picking,” La Rocca continued on stating,”and any claims otherwise simply aren’t true.”
The letter pointed out four aspects breached under Bilateral Agreement highlighting Scugog Island’s stance towards northeast Pickerings hasn’t shifted either way.”It’s crucial now more than ever that Durhan Region doesn’t take steps pushing forward initiation EA process.”
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