STOP SPRAWL ORILLIA - ASK COUNCIL TO REJECT 939 ACRE URBAN BOUNDARY EXPANSION

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URGENT: CITY OF ORILLIA TRYING TO ANNEX 939 ACRES OF FARMLANDS, FORESTS, WETLANDS IN SURROUNDING TOWNSHIPS?!?! READ BELOW.

The City of Orillia, like many municipalities in Southern Ontario, is required by the Province to plan for population growth to the year 2051 in accordance with the Province's Land Needs Assessment Methodology for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, which requires the City to take a "market-based approach" to determining the City's land needs. We are required to bring our City Official Plan into conformity with the Growth Plan by July 1, 2022.

The City of Orillia has chosen a Settlement Area Boundary Expansion by way of annexation to plan for the City's anticipated growth. They are in the early stages of completing a Technical Land Evaluation to determine the most suitable areas for 939 acres of annexation in the surrounding Townships (Ramara, Oro, and Severn).

This boundary expansion represents one of the greatest threats to the environmental sustainability of our community that will harm generations to come. Annexation of 939 acres of land means urban sprawl, which is characterized by low-density residential housing, single-use zoning, and increased reliance on the private automobile for transportation. Suburban sprawl is not the solution to our affordable housing crisis. Urban sprawl means destroying the farmland that provides us with local food and leads to increased energy use, pollution, traffic congestion, unsustainable development, higher taxes, and a decline in community distinctiveness and cohesiveness. Annexing land from surrounding townships means the destruction of wildlife habitats, natural areas, ecological sites, wetlands, and farmland (risking local food security). These 380 hectares contain precious ecosystems that, once paved over, are gone forever. It is also well documented that urban sprawl is more costly for a municipality in terms of development and infrastructure.

SPRAWL IS NOT AFFORDABLE.

The City has chosen this route of annexation in the absence of a comprehensive urban intensification strategy, and also amid the development of Orillia's Climate Change Action Plan.

SPRAWL IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

If we must accept population growth as an inevitability, we must demand Smart Growth - transforming underutilized urban spaces to create more compact, vibrant and connected communities. Smart growth reduces automobile dependence, improves public transit, walkable neighbourhoods, and promotes a safer and more equitable city. It is also more cost efficient, and money earned through intensification can fund public health measures, social supports, fixing existing infrastructure, and active transportation/transit.

SPRAWL IS NOT ORILLIA.

It is clear that we need to act now. A boundary expansion would re-shape our city dramatically. Sign this petition to show council that the residents of Orillia and area DO NOT WANT LAND ANNEXATION. Advocate for the kind of future you want for yourself, your children, your grandchildren, and future generations!

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