The September 29th (virtual) Council Meeting saw a Recommendation regarding protection of lands in Bolton for a future GO Station brought forward from the September 22nd Planning & Development Committee for debate and vote by Council.
The Motion sought to have a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) requested of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to allow “for the protection of the future Bolton GO Station Lands and the Bolton GO Major Transit Study Area to provide essential transit services and plan future transit-oriented communities for the Town of Caledon and more specifically the Bolton community.”
A total of 28 emails from members of the public were received, including 26 in favour of requesting the MZO to protect the space, and 2 opposed. One resident, of the two in opposition, delegated Council in addition to submitting a letter.
Senior Transportation Planner Kant Chawla answered questions from the resident and provided clarification regarding earlier consultations with CP rail and other stakeholders, future population to support ridership, and the importance of retaining a site that would meet the size demands required.
Town staff had communicated that Metrolinx had made it clear that the site, which sits north of King Street straddling Humber Station Road, was the last Bolton location that has sufficient land to accommodate a station along with related train storage and layover space. Staff confirmed that 9 locations as far north as Hwy 9 were considered. A March 2011 feasibility study report identified this site as the preferred location.
Sylvia Kirkwood, confirmed that the MZO, if received, merely zones the site and that the flexibility to zone less land or more land, if needed, would be there. She also confirmed an Environmental Assessment (EA) would still be required in future and would be completed.
While Chawla expressed that having the lands available and protected would “put us in a greater position to advocate to the province” as future population growth pressed the need for the service the delegant still felt that to ask for the MZO was “a dictatorship” move.
The Motion passed with only Regional Councillor Annette Groves and Area Councillor Tony Rosa voting against it. Groves argued that she saw no reason to not just wait until the new year as she felt there “are too many of these MZOs” being requested.
Regional Councillor Jennifer Innis, who was the mover of the Motion, stated that “to wait is to gamble on losing” the last suitable Bolton site and felt Council owed it to residents to ensure that does not happen.
Following the Meeting Innis said “If Caledon wants a future that includes a GO Train, then the protection of these lands are paramount. I am pleased that the majority of our council is forward thinking and willing to advocate to the Provincial Government, alongside with our residents and businesses, that public transportation and transit-oriented, sustainable, and complete communities are a priority.”
The Town Clerk will forward the request to the Province.
Editor’s Note:
JSC was able to connect with Mayor Thompson after this article was published and he had the following to say about the decision:
“I am so pleased that the majority of Council supported the decision to ask the Province to protect these lands for go rail transit. This is a win for Caledon and especially Bolton who will greatly benefit from a rail line to and from the GTA. I have heard the frustration of commuters who are stuck in congestion on highway 50 for far too long. This go rail line will allow our residents to quickly access jobs, education and healthcare. It will also serve our local businesses and employers who will have an expanded access to workforce. The Metrolinx feasibility study was completed in 2010 and it’s time now that we move this forward for the betterment of our communities and residents.”
