The proposal by CRA Lands Limited to obtain an industrial land-use designation for 108 acres of agricultural land and a former gravel pit north of Bridge Street West has renewed focus on the countryside line.
Established in 2009 with roots tracing back to 2003, the countryside line was designed to curb urban sprawl and protect vital agricultural land. The region features six growth boundaries: one encompassing the urban tri-cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge, and five others dedicated to rural settlement areas, including Wellesley, New Hamburg and Baden, Elmira, St. Jacobs and Ayr.
Because the proposed development site sits on the north side of Bridge Street West in Woolwich Township, it directly breaches this established boundary. The prospect has prompted swift outcries from residents in the neighbouring Martin Grove Village and local advocates.
