Medway Valley Heritage Forest ESA: Conservation Master Plan

The City of London is undertaking work to complete the Medway Valley CMP as it aligns with the specific direction in Council's Strategic Plan– A Strong and Healthy Environment. Phase 1 of the project was initiated in 2013 and is now complete. Phase 2 was referred back to staff by Council for further work in 2018.

The Eastern Boundary access was presented publicly at a Community Information Meeting held on April 8, 2021.

Where the project is at now

The proposed 2021 Conservation Master Plan is set for consideration at the Planning and Environment Committee meeting on July 26th, 2021.

VIEW the proposed Medway Valley Conservation Master Plan 2021

Official Plan amendments to incorporate 2015 Council-approved ESA boundary limits will be included. More information on this public participation process, including how you can speak at the meeting, can be found in the Application Notice.

Meeting Date and Time: Monday, July 26, 2021, no earlier than 6:00 p.m.

Meeting Location: City Hall, 300 Dufferin Avenue, 3rd Floor

How to participate in the Public Participation Meeting:

Anyone wishing to speak at a Public Participation Meeting can do so virtually, using Zoom online or by phone, or by attending in person. Pre-registration is required. City Hall is currently open to the public in limited capacity for public participation meetings. Please note that the majority of Elected Officials attend the meetings virtually.

Please note:

• Members of the public are required to pre-register to speak at the public participation meeting. To register this must be requested no later than 9:00 a.m. the day of the meeting. Speakers will be limited to five minutes of verbal presentation.
• Registered speakers, if choosing to attend virtually online, will be given the information to connect to the Zoom meeting and will also be able to present by phone.
• Pre-register by calling 519-661-2489 ext. 7100 or by emailing PPMClerks@london.ca. Please indicate the meeting and item when contacting the Clerk’s Office. Directions on how to participate will be provided upon registration.
• Members of the public can also participate by submitting written communications to the committee or to Members of Council prior to the meeting.

Pre-registration is only required for those wishing to speak at the Public Participation Meeting. The Planning and Environment Committee meeting, and all Standing Committee meetings, can be viewed from the City of London’s website and YouTube.

Master Plan Background

Environmentally Significant Areas, referred to as “ESAs”, are considered the largest, highest quality areas within the City of London's Natural Heritage System.

To help protect and enhance environmentally significant areas, conservation master plans (CMPs) are prepared. CMPS provide direction for the management of these high quality natural areas.

Phase one (I) of the Medway Valley Heritage Forest Conservation Master Plan provided a life science inventory and evaluation along with:

• boundary delineation/refinement,
• application of management zones,
• review of existing trails, and
• identification of management issues.

Phase two (II) of the CMP determined the goals, objectives, and recommendations for the future management of the ESA. This was done by:

• identifying opportunities for ecological protection, enhancement and restoration in the ESA, and
• providing an overview of trail planning and design in response to consultation and according to the Sustainable Trail Management Guidelines.

In 2018, Staff completed Phase II of the Conservation Master Plan for the Ecologically Significant Areas lands located south of Fanshawe Park Road West. City Council referred the report back to Staff with the direction provided in the April 25, 2018 Council Resolution.

As per Council's direction, Staff have been reviewing and revising the 2018 Conservation Master Plan with input from the Environmental Ecological Planning Advisory Committee (EEPAC), the Accessibility Advisory Committee (ACCAC), the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) and local First Nations Communities.

The Draft Sustainable Trail Plan was presented at the Environmental and Ecological Planning Advisory Committee (EEPAC) on March 18^th and the Accessibility Advisory Committee (ACCAC) on March 25^th. Both committees have indicated their support of the revised plan.