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The Town of Markham is a leader in preserving environmental and historic areas. We create plans and policies to support this leadership role.
| Environmental Policy Review and Consolidation Study |
The Environmental Policy Review and Consolidation Study (EPRC) is being completed to ensure that the environmental and open space policies of the Town of Markham's Official Plan are as up to date as possible and are in conformity with or are consistent with the current Provincial and Conservation Authority policies. Our objective is to define a comprehensive vision that will guide environmental planning for the future.
This study intends to identify a Town-wide Natural Heritage System and recommend policies to support the long-term protection and management of natural heritage and Greenbelt lands. Your input will help guide a long-term plan for the natural environment as part of Markham’s Growth Management Strategy.
Study Area
The study area includes all the lands within the Town of Markham.
Key Dates
- Spring 2007 - Public Information Meeting
- Winter 2008 - Public Information Meeting
- Spring 2009 - Public Informatin Meeting
Contact
Lilli Duoba, Senior Project Coordinator
Tel: 905-477-7000 ext. 7925
Email: lduoba@markham.ca
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 On December 14, 2001, the Province of Ontario proclaimed the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act. This legislation permitted the government, by regulation, to establish an ecologically based land use plan for the Oak Ridges Moraine, preserve agricultural land and limit development to approved settlement areas within the defined area of the Moraine. The implementing Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan was filed on April 22, 2002. The southern boundary of the Oak Ridges Moraine extends into Markham at its northern boundary.
On October 21, 2003, Council adopted Official Plan Amendment No. 117 and passed a zoning by-law to implement the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan. The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing approved the Town’s Official Plan Amendment on November 2, 2004 and the zoning by-law amendment subsequently on March, 21, 2006.
Links for more information:
 The Town of Markham has been an active participant on the Rouge Park Alliance (RPA) since it was first established in 1996. The Rouge Park Alliance, in consultation with its partners, prepared the Rouge North Management Plan to provide a framework for the extension of the Rouge Park North into Markham along the tributaries of the Rouge watershed. The Rouge North Management Plan was endorsed by Markham Council in 2001.
On October 25, 2005, Markham Council adopted Official Plan Amendment No. 140 which implements the Rouge North Management Plan. The Rouge North Official Plan Amendment proposes the use of ecological criteria as a means of establishing a protected environmental corridor intended to be conveyed into public ownership. Official Plan Amendment No. 140 is with the Region of York for approval.
The Rouge Park Alliance and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority are currently undertaking a detailed management plan for the Little Rouge Creek corridor. The Little Rouge Creek Corridor lands generally comprise the transfer lands surrounding the Little Rouge Creek conveyed from the Province to the Toronto Region Conservation Authority and the Town of Markham for Rouge Park purposes. The total conveyance represents 544 hectares of land. The Management Plan planning process was initiated in early 2005 and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2006.
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On February 24, 2005 the Province of Ontario passed Bill 135 – The Greenbelt Act, 2005. The Act provides a legislative framework to protect a greenbelt area in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Area of southern Ontario. The legislation permits the establishment of a Greenbelt Plan to guide decision-making within greenbelt lands designated by regulation.
 The Greenbelt Plan was released by the Province on February 28, 2005 and its vision is to provide permanent protection of agricultural, natural heritage and water resource systems. The Greenbelt Area within Markham includes a significant portion of eastern Markham, the Little Rouge Creek corridor and the major tributaries of the Rouge River, from the Town’s urban boundary north to Whitchurch-Stouffville.
The Greenbelt Act requires municipalities adopt an Official Plan Amendment to implement the Greenbelt Plan within five years. Official Plan Amendment No. 140 (Rouge Park/Greenbelt) incorporates the Greenbelt boundary as information to ensure that the Greenbelt Area lands are identified within the context of the Rouge Park policies until the Greenbelt conformity planning exercise is completed in accordance with the Greenbelt Act (2005). The Greenbelt Area cannot be reduced even if the Rouge Park North boundary is determined to be smaller than Greenbelt Area. The Town of Markham will undertake a comprehensive Official Plan Amendment conformity process to implement the Greenbelt Plan in accordance with the timelines established by the Greenbelt Act (2005).
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 In 2003, the TRCA undertook a flood plain mapping update for the Rouge River watershed. As a result of this project, updated Special Policy Area boundaries have been established through a consultative process with the TRCA and the Town of Markham. The revised Special Policy Area boundary will ensure consistent mapping products between the TRCA and Town and ensure appropriate policy is applied to applications for development within lands designated Special Policy Area. The Special Policy Area Official Plan Amendment is a technical adjustment to the boundaries and does not affect the existing policies contained within the Town’s Official Plan.
The Special Policy Area Official Plan Amendment (OPA No. 153) and Zoning By-laws 304-87, as amended, 11-72, as amended, 1229, as amended, 134-79, as amended, 122-72, as amended, 177-96, as amended, were adopted and passed by Council on June 13, 2006. The Official Plan Amendment is awaiting final approval by the Region of York.
Links for more information:
| Federal Green Space Master Plan |
On March 23, 2001, Transport Minister David Collenette announced that the Federal Government would take steps to protect, as green space, portions of the Oak Ridges Moraine and a north-south corridor connecting to the Rouge Park. The lands comprise approximately 2,251 hectares on the Oak Ridges Moraine in Markham, Uxbridge and Pickering, as well as 800 hectares along the western boundary in Markham for the purpose of an alternate Rouge Park corridor.
Click to enlarge image ( 1025k/1p)
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In the fall of 2003, Council initiated a study process to prepare a draft Tree By-law to manage tree cutting on private lands within the Town. The work undertaken to date has focussed on a “scoped by-law” to cover priority areas such as: Trees in Heritage Areas; Trees Identified for Preservation through the Subdivision and Site Plan Approval Process; Trees Adjacent to Valleys or Other Significant Natural Features; and, Trees on Vacant Properties with Development Potential and/or Anticipated or Current Development Applications. The consultants have conducted their research, and scoped field work, and provided preliminary recommendations on the “scoped” approach, as well as an option for an urban area “town-wide” tree preservation by-law which are expected to be reviewed with Council and the public in the spring of 2007.
Links for more information:
| Source Water Protection Planning |
 The Provincial Watershed-based Source Protection Planning program provides a provincial-wide coordinated framework for moving forward on a watershed-based source protection planning process. The proposed legislation identifies Conservation Authorities as taking a lead role in the source protection planning process and mandates a role for the regional and local municipalities within the planning process and in short and long-term implementation activities.
Links for more information:
| Environmental Land Securement Program |
In 2001, Council approved a fund for the specific purpose of providing financial assistance for the acquisition of significant environmental lands. The Fund is not intended to apply to lands that would be acquired through the development approvals process, nor to tableland parkland that can be purchased though the cash-in-lieu of parkland fund.
The fund was used in 2002 for the purchase of a 16 hectare site at Steeles Avenue and Ninth Line and again in 2004 for the purchase of a .35 hectare site on Warden Avenue.
Other organizations and partners involved with environmental land acquisition include:
- Federal Government Egogifts Program
- Province of Ontario – Ontario Heritage Trust Natural Spaces Land Acquisition
and Stewardship Program
- Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Greenlands Acquisition
Project 2006-2010
- Region of York Land Securement Fund
- Nature Conservancy of Ontario
- Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation
Links for more information:
 In February 2002, Council approved a work program to undertake a study to develop policies and implementing guidelines for the long-term protection and management of small streams and intermittent watercourses. The objective of the study is to review the Town’s existing policies and stormwater management guidelines with respect to small streams and watercourses; review literature; identify opportunities for strengthened polices; identify state-of-the-art protection and management practices being implemented in other jurisdictions; produce guidelines for the protection and management of small streams and watercourses; and, identify opportunities within the Town, with a focus on the existing urban expansion areas, to apply the policies and guidelines within the context of existing development approvals.
The preliminary draft Markham Small Streams Study: Principles and Strategies for the Protection and Management of Small Drainage Courses was released in December 2004. A second draft incorporating public and agency input was released in Septemberl 2006. The Small Streams Study is expected to be reviewed by Council in early 2007.
Links for more information:
| Watershed Groups and Activities |
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority manages a number of watershed planning groups. The following are active groups which include the watershed portions of Markham.
- Don Watershed Council (Thornhill Markham)
- Duffins Carruthers Watershed Working Group (Eastern Markham)
- Rouge Park Alliance (Central Markham and Unionville)
Links for more information:
| Other Environmental Planning Initiatives, Services and Programs |
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