(Photo: City of Mississauga)
BY KELLY ROCHE
Mississauga is the first municipality in Ontario to request the inclusion of valley lands into a proposal expanding the provincial Greenbelt plan area.
The city is designating public lands within the Credit River corridor as Urban River Valley.
“Mississauga’s natural heritage system and urban forest are a significant part of our city’s landscape,” said Ward 8 Coun. Matt Mahoney, chairman of the environmental action committee.
The endorsement, announced at council Wednesday, builds on a recommendation from the natural heritage and urban forest strategy.
The city has identified 76 parcels of land totalling 194 hectares (479 acres) along the Credit River corridor, which won’t limit the city’s current or future use of the lands.
Ward 1 Coun. Jim Tovey called it a “great” day.
“Expanding the Greenbelt demonstrates the city’s environmental leadership and commitment to creating a sustainable future for our city and our residents,” said Tovey.
The city’s official plan policies “afford significant protection to parcels being considered as Urban River Valley,” said director of parks and forestry Laura Piette.
“Expanding the provincial Greenbelt complements that protection by raising Mississauga’s environmental profile and supports land and water stewardship initiatives along the Credit River.”
With a two-tier government in Mississauga, the Region of Peel has to complete the request to the province.
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