North Durham: Drain or gain to Region?

At least that's what some Region officials are saying about the development woes faced by north Durham municipalities.

And although growth is stunted in the upper reaches of Durham, that doesn't mean those municipalities are a financial drain on the Region as a whole, they said.

Uxbridge and Brock in particular currently face development woes due to sewage capacity on top of Greenbelt, Oak Ridges Moraine and Lake Simcoe Protection Act legislation. In a nutshell, Uxbridge is growing inwards, not outwards, beyond its current urban boundaries.

But Regional Chairman Roger Anderson was careful not to pin blame on the north for any fiscal challenges faced by Durham.

"A lack of residential development across the board in Durham will have an impact on the Region across the board," said the chairman.

And while there are noticeably less commercial and industrial operations in north Durham, the three upper municipalities have made gains in those sectors in recent years, with Region initiatives to further improve that situation, Mr. Anderson pointed out.

"Broadband is a big help to land business in the north," he said.

The biggest challenge, he said, is Greenbelt legislation he called "really restrictive.

"Unless the (Province) makes it more flexible, some across the GTA are going to find themselves in a predicament," said Mr. Anderson.

He added the Region will take an active part in the discussion when the Greenbelt rules are reviewed in 2014.

Uxbridge Mayor Bob Shepherd said while development is stunted, building alone is not the final answer to handle future costs.

"Growth is a short-term solution ... growth does not pay for growth," said Mayor Shepherd.

He said legislation such as the Oak Ridges Moraine Act "has created a whole new class of municipalities that cannot be supported under the old model ... we've got to find a new (solution)."

Mayor Shepherd said Uxbridge is getting a fair shake in Region services from the tax dollars it sends to Durham, and he hears no complaints from south mayors about their northern neighbours not pulling their weight financially. "We get more back from the Region than you think," said the mayor, pointing out policing, transit, water, major roads, garbage collection and social welfare are all upper-tier responsibilities.

But he noted Durham Transit, which Uxbridge, Scugog and Brock pay a share of, could have been put on hold for the north as the service is limited compared to the south.

"I would have voted to exclude the three north municipalities in the first term," said Mayor Shepherd.

Mr. Anderson pointed out a lack of growth could actually have advantages.

"A lot of people like small municipalities with a rural feel," said the chairman. Also, "there's enough land in Uxbridge for some big companies to come in ... I don't think the (company) president would mind living on a 100-acre lot with a nice house."

newsdurhamregion.com | North Durham: Drain or gain to Region?.