CONE's Current Cases & CampaignsBelow is a brief description of some of the To find out more, sign up to receive Click here to view an archive of past CONE cases.
(updated September 5, 2006) CONE is opposing Nelson Aggregates' applications to re-designate approximately 82.3 ha in the Niagara Escarpment Plan Area from "Escarpment Rural Area" to "Mineral Resource Extraction Area" for the purposes of extending the existing Burlington Limestone Quarry operation. To find out more visit our Nelson Aggregates page.
(updated December 7, 2006) CONE had appealed the decision of a Joint Board to approve the proposal by Dufferin Aggregates to expand its massive Halton Quarry operation in Milton northward into a provincially significant Area of Natural Scientific Interest and wetland complex. CONE, along with our member group POWER, was full party at the Joint Board hearing. On November 29, 2006, the Cabinet approved the Dufferin Aggregate quarry expansion. To find out more visit our Dufferin Aggregates page.
(updated September 6, 2006) On April 1, 2004 a hearing before the Joint Board was reconvened into an application by Central Milton Holdings to build a subdivision of between 480 and 629 units on 63 hectares at the base of the Escarpment outside of Milton. But, at the request of the applicant, the hearing was adjourned until November 15, 2004, in order to allow the applicant even more time to prepare its case. It has since been postponed a number of times. The present hearing reconvened on July 4, 2006 to determine whether the proposed Central Milton Holdings site plan can meet the conditions imposed by the Board. CONE is registered as a presenter in the hearing in opposition to the application. The NEC is also opposed. The case itself goes back to 1999 when four landowners sought urban designations on their properties, which are designated Escarpment Protection Area and Escarpment Rural Area in the Niagara Escarpment Plan. All of the lands lie just outside the Town of Milton at the base of the Escarpment south of Kelso Conservation Area at the corner of Steeles Avenue and Tremaine Road (60 km west of Toronto). Click here for information on the previous 1999 hearings into the "Milton Land Grab" and a map of the subject lands. One of the four landowners, John Grant, withdrew his application. Another, Jannock Ltd., was granted a deferral. The other two landowners -- #825927 Ontario Inc. (Joseph Curcuruto) and Central Milton Holdings -- proceeded to a hearing. CONE opposed both applications. The Board refused the Curcuruto application and deferred decision on the Central Milton Holdings property, allowing them time to prepare a site plan for its proposed development that would respect Escarpment views, provide access to the Escarpment, reflect the open landscape character and protect the woodlot on the site.
(updated September 6, 2006) Castle Glen Development Corporation has applied to construct a four-season fully-serviced community with commercial area, schools, gas station, health clinic, three golf courses, institutional uses, plus 300 hotel rooms and 1,600 homes -- effectively an entirely new urban area -- on 620 hectares of Escarpment lands in the Town of the Blue Mountains. Zoning for the development was approved in the Town of Blue Mountains Official Plan of 1974 and grandfathered into the NEP. CONE is supporting the local residents association that is fighting the development. The application was split into two phases. Phase 1, which lies below the escarpment slope, was approved by the OMB in November 2004. The approval allows a maximum of 543 residential units as well as 150 commercial accommodation units, golf courses and supporting infrastructure. The hearing for Phase 2 of the project was postponed to allow the proponent to submit further environmental and karst assessment studies. It reconvened in June 2006. Click here to view
(updated September 6, 2006) CONE continues to play a lead role in the broad grassroots opposition to the proposed Niagara to GTA Corridor. To find out more visit our Niagara to GTA Corridor page.
(updated July 19, 2002) A developer in Winona has applied for a Niagara Escarpment Plan Amendment to expand the urban boundary of the community of Winona onto Escarpment lands. The Commission's planner had recommended that the developer's application be thrown out as it was frivolous and not in the public ineterst (click here to view the initial NEC staff report dated November 2001). Despite this staff recommendation and despite similar objections from CONE (click here to view CONE's comments to the NEC) and from dozens of neighbours, on July 17, 2002 the Niagara Escarpment Commission voted to allow the application to proceed to a hearing. The Commission has not yet taken a position on the application. A date for the hearing has not yet been scheduled. CONE is following the issue closely and will be participating in the hearing when it begins.
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