WHEREAS the Lake Ontario shoreline, river valleys and stream corridors as elements of the urban structure and important parts of the regional ecosystem is acknowledged; and

WHEREAS the need for an ecosystem approach to the protection of the waterfront (and, indeed, a broader approach to planning in general) is recognized; and

WHEREAS the watefront is a unique and fragile resource and an ecosystem approach will recognize the dynamic and complex interactions of natural and human communities and processes; and

WHEREAS the waterfront should be considered to be a valuable natural resource whose use and development should be planned to both sustain the integrity of the resource base and to generate social benefits; and

WHEREAS the general goal behind encompassing waterfront planning within an O.P. is to ensure that there is a balance of uses along the waterfront, that sensitive environmental and heritage areas are protected, that greenspace and access to it are expanded, where appropriate, and that sites of importance to the municipality's economic vitality are maintained and improved;

THEREFORE lakeshore municipalities should include in their Official Plans a Waterfront section which addresses the following criteria:

1.0 THE WATERFRONT:

1.1 Definition:

To effectively plan for the waterfront, it is important to define a "waterfront zone" within the O.P. Defining on a map the area within a municipality to be known as the waterfront is important to avoid confusion between waterfront and non-waterfront sites. Certain guidelines can be used in defining the waterfront area. A number of different concepts can be used to aid in the establishment of a definition of a waterfront area. Some of these include:

"waterfront lands": (a) the land, including land covered with water, that is related to the shore of Lake Ontario extending from Burlington Bay in the west to the Trent River in the east, and (b) such other land as the Lieutenant Governor in Council designates. (From the Waterfront Regeneration Trust Agency Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c. 2, s. 1).

Shoreline Impact Zone (SIZ): This includes all land within the fill regulation line established by Conservation Authorities (see O. Reg. 158 established in 1992 under s. 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act). Municipal councils can consult with Conservation Authorities to determine the precise limits of the SIZ. If any part of a property is within the SIZ, the entire property will be deemed to fall within the SIZ until the precise limits of the erosion prone area are determined to the satisfaction of council.

Environmentally Significant Areas (ESAs): These are identified by Conservation Authorities as having natural features or ecological functions of such significance as to require conservation.

Areas of Natural & Scientific Interest (ANSIs): These are natural landscapes or features recognized by the province as having value for protection, heritage appreciation, scientific study or education.

Waterfront Environmental Impactct Zone (WEIZ): This consists of natural elements associated with the waterfront.

Shoreline management deals with coastal processes such as the movement Of currents and pollution, erosion, deposition, etc. It involves the assessment of shoreline management needs and options, including erosion control, lakefilling, and aquatic habitat protection and regeneration.

Development adjacent to the shoreline, including lakefilling, can contribute to erosion, property damage and cause adverse effects on lake currents, fish and wildlife habitat and water quality. A municipality's goal should be to minimize/eliminate the adverse impacts from development along the shoreline.

Design and maintenance of waterfront open space should contribute to shoreline protection.

Future lakefilling projects or any other modification of the existing shoreline should be designed to create or enhance aquatic habitat by creation of protected basins and wetlands.

A fill regulation line or Shoreline Impact Zone (SIZ) has been established by the Conservation Authorities. Development in this zone must be demonstrated through an environmental impact study to minimize erosion and any adverse impacts on water quality, slope stability and drainage. Such studies shall also identify protective measures and conditions to ensure the development is carried out in accordance with the study. All development in the SIZ Should be subject to site plan approval.

Remedial strategies directed at the improvement of water quality should be developed with particular emphasis placed on the reduction of bacterial contamination and the restoration of aquatic habitat.

Initiatives to monitor and control the discharge of contaminants into the sewer system and efforts to comply with the requirements of MISA should be encouraged and supported by the municipality.

Development within shoreline areas shall not result in soil and water contamination or adversely affect the water quality of the adjacent water body.

Where appropriate, waterfront development/redevelopment should contribute to the restoration or re-creation of terrestrial aquatic habitat.

Wetlands shall be maintained to improve witer quality, aid flood control, and provide fish and wildlife habitat.

Public access to the waterfront should occur at reasonable intervals along the shoreline. Municipalities should be committed to improving public access to the waterfront. Publicly owned lands at the water's edge should be accessible to the public except where public access must be controlled for reasons of safety or security or to protect sensitive natural features.

It is important to secure a balanced use of waterfront lands supporting residential, employment and recreational activity which sustains the waterfront as an accessible resource. Where appropriate, the waterfront should be strengthened as a major tourist attraction and as a major recreational and cultural attraction within the community.

Public access to the waterfront can be improved through (i) the acquisition of waterfront lands by the municipality; (ii) the creation of nodes which provide opportunities for various fos of public access; and (iii) the creation of waterfront pedestrian and bicycle linkages between public access nodes.

Waterfront activity nodes and neighbourhoods should be accessible by public transit as well is by private vehicles, with increasing emphasis upon public transit.

The waterfront should be safe and accessible to the disabled as well as to all other segments of society.

Municipalities should be committed to establishing a continuous recreational trail along the waterfront. The waterfront trail should (i) be located as close to the water's edge as feasible or in a location which provides frequent lake views; (ii) connect to other local and regional trail systems; (iii)have support systems such as washrooms, seating, and car and bicycle parking; and (iv) be compatible with the natural environment.

Any proposal for the development/redevelopment of waterfront lands should be of a form and scale appropriate to the waterfront location, be comprised of a mix of uses as appropriate, promote continuous public access to areas along the water's edge, and maintain or enhance view corridors to the water.

Development within shoreline areas shall not preclude access to the waterfront.

Municipalities should recognize that there should be green, natural places on the waterfront for the benefit of both people and wildlife.

The diversity and productivity of ecological communities should be protected and restored through measures to (i) preserve the genetic diversity of indigenous plants and animals; (ii) restore healthy natural habitats and comniunities; and (iii) maintain natural ecological processes.

Natural (and indigenous) vegetation should be used, where feasible, to restore and enhance the attractiveness, health, and usability of the waterfront.

Existing woodlots, wetlands, and areas of natural or naturalistic shoreline should be maintained where possible and managed to protect their natural conditions.

Naturalized links (i.e. greenways) should be established and renewed between the waterfront and river valleys.

Wildlife habitats, both terrestrial and aquatic, should be protected and enhanced in cooperation with the Conservation Authority, other area municipalities, and appropriate agencies.

Municipalities should endeavour to protect wildlife breeding grounds, refuges and migratory staging areas, and other environmentally sensitive areas by controlling public access to such areas whenever necessary and appropriate.

Municipalities recognize that the water and the water's edge should be clean for both health and aesthetic reasons. Remedial strategies should be directed towards the improvement of water quality. Particular emphasis should be placed upon the reduction of bacterial contamination and the restoration of aquatic habitat.

Environmentally sensitive areas refer to those natural lands or water of inherent biological or physical sensitivity including, but not limited to, areas containing wetlands, aquifer recharges, headwaters, unique plants, wildlife, breeding or over-wintering habitats, vital ecological functions, rare or endangered species, or Areas of Natural or Scientific Interest (ANSI). In consideration of development applications in proximity to environmentally sensitive areas, or development applications which may have major environmental impacts, a municipal council shall select and retain a qualified environmental consultant to prepare an environmental impact study at the expense of the applicant. Such a study shall apply to the area to be developed, or may be expanded to include additional lands, as may be deemed necessary by council, in consultation with the appropriate authorities, and it shall address the following:

1. the location and nature of development;
2. the mapping of the location and extent of the environmental conditions, which may include rare and uncommon species of plants and wildlife, high quality forests and streams;
3. the degree of sensitivity of environmental conditions and an evaluation of such conditions;
4. the need for any mitigating measures to protect the environmentally sensitive area and the surrounding environment, and definitions of such measures; and
5. any other matters deemed necessary by council.

Wherever possible, environmentally sensitive areas should be retained in a natural state.

Plans and proposals for the use and development of the waterfront should recognize, respect and reflect elements of heritage and local character. Natural areas and sites of historic and archaeological importance should be considered for protection and enhancement.

Cultural heritage resources are significant man-made features which are indicative of past human activities, events, or achievements. Such resources include, but are not restricted to, archaeological sites, buildings, structures and artifacts of architectural or historical significance.

Municipalities should identify and preserve, wherever possible, cultural heritage resources.

All development/redevelopment shall have regard for heritage resources and shall, wherever possible, incorporate these resources into any site plan or design that may be prepared for such development.

Municipal councils may consider the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act to aid the protection and maintenance of heritage resources. Pursuant to the Ontario Heritage Act, council may: (i) establish a Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee; and (ii) conserve, protect and enhance heritage features through the designations of individual properties and districts.

Municipalities should encourage government or private agencies to undertake any necessary surveys to identify archaeological resources and should encourage the preservation and/or excavation of such resources.

Municipal councils should encourage the conservation, protection, renovation and re-use of heritage resources.

The location and nature of any contaminated areas can be summarized here. Strategies should be recommended to remove real and/or perceived barriers to site remediation on the waterfront.

The potential economic benefits of the greenway strategy can be identified here.

Municipalities should recognize that environmentally sound development of additional tourism and recreation opportunities will in turn generate additional economic benefits and developments.

Water recreation areas/nodes should be identified on a map. Water quality and habitat should be preserved while allowing the use of such areas for multiple recreational activities with probable emphasis on boating and fishing.

Municipalities should recognize the economic and recreational benefits of harbours to the city/region and, where appropriate, encourage the modernization and expansion of the harbour. Municipalities should co-operate with all levels of government and their appropriate agencies in order to maximize the economic and recreational potential of harbours.

A number of other considerations with respect to waterfront planning may be summarized effectively within other sections of an O.P. Such sections include the following:

Land Use - Special considerations regarding land use issues at the waterfront with respect to types of development, density, etc. should be included here. It should be kept in mind that density design of waterfront structures should not create a visual barrier or be an intrusion on the water's edge.

Parks and Greenspace - This section may reflect the desirability of increasing greenspace along the water's edge, particularly in municipalities where such is lacking. Issues regarding the linking of the waterfront to other parks through greenways and the waterfront trail may also be included in this section. Goals with respect to recreational uses at the waterfront may also fit in here.

Parkland Dedication - It may be important to mention here that a municipality should not accept cash-in-lieu of parkland for developments along the waterfront. This is especially important where greenspace along the water's edge is relatively lacking.

Heritage and Local Character - Information regarding heritage and local character at the waterfront may be best lumped in with other issues under this subject.

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