steveintoronto
Superstar
Prominent discussion on this is unavoidable, as given the chance, some developers would do as you state, and some councils would agree! And Ford just might bend over backwards to accommodate.Across for sure, but not along/over. I was thinking some might be salivating at the prospect of papering over entire ROWs fence-to-fence with housing.
The engineering aside, I wonder if the Feds might have to step in to legislate reserving the status as being only for utilities? IIRC, only railways (and then only federally regulated ones) have corridor protection as a federal competence that could subvert provincial ones in the utility corridors.
Which raises another aspect being considered by Toronto Council: TTC subways being declared as being under Federal jurisdiction (The Constitution allows it if certain criteria are met) to continue protection for safety in a shared utility corridor with electricity, gas and petroleum services also sharing. That sounds ludicrous until considering the lengths that Ford et al have gone to destroy protections assumed to be inalienable up until now.
lol...just did a quick Google to find a Toronto utility corridor map. Will continue that search later, as this just popped up:
Apr 12, 2010
https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threads/question-building-under-hydro-lines.12237/Hey all.
I was just wondering if anyone knew what Toronto's laws were about building underneath a hydro line? Like the really, really big ones...
I'm working on a project and can't seem to find it anywhere...
I'm also looking for the specific By-Law that states whether you can or cannot.
Thanks!
I've got to read the replies to see what shows...
Addendum: One of the posters to the above string quotes TO planning land use policy, perhaps not realizing it paraphrases the Ont Electricity Act, sections of which are:
Electricity Act, 1998
S.O. 1998, CHAPTER 15
SCHEDULE A
https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/98e15Purposes
1 The purposes of this Act include the following:
[...]
(j) to protect corridor land so that it remains available for uses that benefit the public, while recognizing the primacy of transmission uses. 2004, c. 23, Sched. A, s. 1; 2014, c. 7, Sched. 7, s. 1; 2015, c. 20, Sched. 9, s. 1; 2016, c. 10, Sched. 2, s. 1.
[...]
Order re other uses
(3) The Board may order the owner of the corridor land to restrict or discontinue any use of the land that interferes with the expansion of the transmission system or distribution system as authorized under Part VI of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998. 2002, c. 1, Sched. A, s. 23.
[...]
Effect of agreement
(6) If an owner of corridor land and the person or entity who has the statutory right to use the land enter into an agreement governing the expansion of a transmission system or distribution system on the land or the use of the land, the Board shall not make an order under this section that is inconsistent with the agreement. 2002, c. 1, Sched. A, s. 23.
[...]
Duty re use of corridor land
114.7 A person or entity who has the statutory right to use corridor land shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that the design and construction of any transmission system on the land maximizes the area available for other uses. 2002, c. 1, Sched. A, s. 23.
[...]
Directions re location of buildings, etc.
114.8 (1) The Minister of Infrastructure may give directions to a person or entity who has the statutory right to use corridor land in respect of the location on the land of any proposed building, structure or equipment or of any proposed expansion of a building, structure or equipment, and the person or entity shall comply with the directions. 2002, c. 1, Sched. A, s. 23; 2011, c. 9, Sched. 27, s. 23 (4).
[...]
Procedural matters
(5) The person or entity who proposes to construct or expand a building, structure or equipment on corridor land shall comply with such requirements as may be prescribed concerning notice to the Minister of Infrastructure and information to be given to him or her. 2002, c. 1, Sched. A, s. 23; 2011, c. 9, Sched. 27, s. 23 (4).
[...]
Relocation of buildings, etc.
114.9 (1) The Minister of Infrastructure may direct a person or entity who has the statutory right to use corridor land and who owns a building, structure or equipment located on the land to move it, and may impose conditions or restrictions with respect to the direction. 2002, c. 1, Sched. A, s. 23; 2011, c. 9, Sched. 27, s. 23 (4).
[...]
Property Interests
Public streets and highways
41 (1) A transmitter or distributor may, over, under or on any public street or highway, construct or install such structures, equipment and other facilities as it considers necessary for the purpose of its transmission or distribution system, including poles and lines. 1998, c. 15, Sched. A, s. 41 (1).
[...]
No consent required
(5) The exercise of powers under subsections (1), (2) and (3) does not require the consent of the owner of or any other person having an interest in the street or highway. 1998, c. 15, Sched. A, s. 41 (5).
I just scanned through it to quote some clauses to illustrate the incredible powers available to at least electrical corridor authorities.
Just became aware of this:
Federal transport minister calls proposed $100B Northern Corridor 'an appealing concept'
Could be used for road, rail, pipeline, electrical transmission and communication infrastructure
Kelly Provost · CBC News · Posted: Oct 13, 2018 5:00 AM CT | Last Updated: October 13
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/canada-northern-corridor-infrastructure-1.4861272
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