The following highlights from the June board meeting were provided by the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA).
NEWS RELEASE
NOTTAWASAGA VALLEY CONSERVATION AUTHORITY
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Sean-Michael Stephen, MBA, managing partner, Watson & Associates Economists Ltd., conducted a presentation regarding NVCA’s program rates and fees review.
The objective of this review was to make recommendations for the fees that were imposed for plan review and permitting by the authority due to legislative changes that have occurred. These legislative changes include the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022.
All fee recommendations were made with regard for legislative authority to recover the full costs of delivering plan review and permitting services on a program basis, applicant affordability and completeness, and industry best practices and uniformity of fees.
The report recommends increasing review fees for site-specific official plan and zoning bylaw applications, minor variance, consents, NEC applications. The report also suggests maintaining existing subdivision, residential site plans and aggregate proposals. In addition, permit fees are proposed to be increased to full cost recovery levels while maintaining competitiveness with other conservation authorities. The discounted fee for agricultural permit fees that was established in 2016 should be maintained.
Presentation on NVCA’s forestry program
Rick Grillmayer, manager of forestry, conducted a presentation regarding NVCA’s forestry program. He outlined that NVCA is the only agency left in the watershed to offer tree-planting services, and that we have been planting trees each year since 1964.
NVCA’s 2023 tree-planting season began on April 24 and was completed on May 17. All of NVCA’s trees come from Somerville Seedlings in Everett, Ont. A total of 78,000 trees were planted on 19 properties in seven municipalities.
NVCA plants trees two ways: by machine and by hand. Machine planting is very cost effective and efficient. If the planting site is too steep, has too many stones, is too wet, or is too small, hand planters are sent in.
Forestry always works one year in advance. Site visits need to be completed the year before planting, before the winter.
Successful tree planting requires that the site is prepared and that the trees are tended to after planting. NVCA does this for landowners. NVCA’s forestry program does survival surveys in the first, second, and fifth years after planting.
The tree species that NVCA plants are a result of decades of practice. The trees that NVCA planted this spring came from seeds that were collected up to five years ago to be grown and ready.
Permits approvals under the Conservation Authorities Act
NVCA’s permit application service timelines are governed by the conservation authority liaison committee, which requires NVCA to complete a policy review within 21 days, and complete a technical review within 30 days for minor applications and 90 days for major applications.
NVCA regulations staff provided a summary of the permits issued during the period Jan. 1, 2023 to June 10, 2023. A total of 326 permits and clearances were approved by staff for this time period, with 93.5 per cent of the permits processed within the provincial timelines.
Report on NVCA’s memorandums of understanding (MOU)
Doug Hevenor, CAO of NVCA, reported that NVCA is in discussion with various CAOs from municipalities for MOUs. This report will be sent to the province’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry on July 1, 2023.
Upcoming events
Camp Tiffin
Led by NVCA’s environmental educators, Camp Tiffin is an outdoor camp designed to enhance children’s knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the natural world and our amazing planet.
Date: July 4 to Sept. 1
Location: Tiffin Centre for Conservation, 8195 8th Line, Utopia
Junior Leadership Camp
Camp Tiffin’s Junior Leadership Program is a two-week camp for 13- to 15-year-olds, which builds valuable leadership skills and provides hands-on practical experiences.
Date: July 4 to Sept. 1
Location: Tiffin Centre for Conservation, 8195 8th Line, Utopia
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