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Public property on Merton Lands a step closer to Greenbelt by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 13 | Thursday, June 18, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Publicly-owned property in west Oakville's Merton Lands is one step closer to potentially being added to Ontario's Greenbelt. Town council voted unanimously Monday to incorporate the lands in the Fourteen Mile Creek Valley, between Upper Middle Road West and the QEW , into its Natural Heritage System. Oakville Mayor Rob Burton has previously stated the change could help get more protection for the lands. He noted Ontario's 10-year review of the Greenbelt is underway and the Province is looking to expand the Greenbelt. This move makes it easier to incorporate the lands into the Greenbelt, said Burton. Established in 2005, to protect 1.8 millionacres of environmentally-sensitive areas and farmlands, the Greenbelt surrounds the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Council's action comes as developer Bronte Green Corporation and the Town head to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) over a development application for Saw-Whet Golf Course, privately-owned property in the Merton Lands. The developer aims to build 760 houses including 520 single-detached homes, 104 back-to-back dwellings, 125 townhouses and 11 single-detached residential condominiums on the 55-hectare plot of land at 1401 Bronte Rd. -- a plan Ward 4 councillors Allan Elgar and Roger Lapworth admit is not popular with residents. As the Saw-Whet Golf Course is private property, it would not be included if council's Greenbelt plan goes forward. The Natural Heritage System expansion was well-received by the Fourteen Mile Creek Residents' Association with its Vice President Shaniah Leduc calling on council to consider including another small parcel of land on the southeast side of the Fourteen Mile Creek Valley. She said the land, which is only a few acres in size, is owned by the Province, but managed by the Town and designated public -- open park and space. Leduc said the area is home to a variety of wildlife including deer, coyotes, owls and more and asked council to keep the option open to incorporate it into the Natural Heritage System. Oakvillegreen Conservation Association President Karen Brock applauded Council's vote. "Oakvillegreen and its members strongly support the preservation of the Greenbelt during the current 2015 review," said Brock. "The Greenbelt has been a successful model in keeping southern Ontario healthy for the last 10 years. Let's improve this life support system." Brock went on to note that potential inclusion of the Fourteen Mile Creek Valley lands in the Greenbelt would protect natural and water features, connect the Greenbelt to the Great Lakes, provide a gateway to the rural landscape of the Greenbelt, and offer recreation opportunities in natural settings within a rapidly growing urban area. Area resident Brian Burton called for a 2.5-acre space in the area of Third Line and North Service Rd., W., which is owned by the Province, to also be included in the Natural Heritage System. He argued the Province has designated it Environmentally Sensitive Land and as such there should be no barrier to moving it to the Natural Heritage System and ultimately the Greenbelt. Public outcry over Infrastructure Ontario's proposal to develop 60 townhouses on the Merton Lands adjacent to Third Line and North Service Road West resulted in the Province officially withdrawing its bid in September 2014. During the vote, Elgar introduced a motion calling on Town staff to continue to explore opportunities to include all appropriately designed natural heritage lands in the Merton Study Area as natural area in the Town's Livable Oakville Plan. "I think this allows staff to continue to get new information and update our reports so we can do the right thing," he said. "I look forward to more of this type of thing coming forward in the future." Council voted unanimously to approve the motion.