Caledon residents continue to voice concerns over Draft Site Alteration By-Law

May 7, 2026 · 0 Comments

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The second open house for the proposed Site Alteration By-Law was held this Monday, following additional consultation, which was ratified by Caledon Council in January.

The proposed Site Alteration by-law has drawn concern since September 2025, when the first draft and open house were released and held.

Many residents call for the draft to be scrapped and for the existing fill by-law to be enforced.

The Site Alteration By-Law will repeal and replace the Town’s current fill by-law. In February of 2020, a working group was established to develop the new bylaw, and the draft was first presented in 2025.

The Town shares that the current 2007 by-law needs updating as it does not align with significant changes to the Municipal Act, Conservation Authorities Act, Ontario Regulation 406/19, Provincial guidance documents, or current industry best practices.

Staff at the open house say that they are looking to modernize and update the by-law, as it was ratified and adopted in 2007.

“Certainly Caledon from 2007 isn’t what’s at our doorstep today,” says Domenica D’Amico, Commissioner of Engineering, Transportation, and Public Works. “There’s a lot of changes that have been made to the landscape in Caledon and we need to be in a better position to sort of respond to that.”

Staff shared the proposed by-law “creates a compliant, comprehensive framework that regulates fill placement and removal, grading, and drainage alterations on any site, regardless of zoning.”

The proposed by-law requirements for issuing a permit are broken down into categories for small, medium, and large site alterations.

Council approval will continue to be required for site alterations exceeding 10,000 cubic metres.

The proposed by-law will also include standardized requirements for studies, drawing, monitoring, and reporting, including a requirement for a Site Alteration and Fill management Plan for Large and Medium Site Alterations.

The latest draft of the by-law introduces changes, including the requirement for public consultation and Council approval for large site permits, rather than at the discretion of the commissioner.

It also introduces discretionary public consultation for medium site alteration permits, as well as expanding requirements for large site alteration projects undertaken by Conservation Authorities, the Commissioner’s authorization to impose additional requirements for large and medium site alteration permits, and an annual review process for large site alteration projects that have not been completed within the year.

“I’m looking for flexibility required to support and regulate not only Caledon’s projected growth, but activities that are happening today regarding fill operations, and they’re happening across Caledon that aren’t giving you the protection you need under the current fill bylaw as residents of Caledon,” says D’Amico. “Really just achieving better controls and consistency on the way the bylaw is applied and the permitting process, including the development of a guideline manual.”

The proposed by-law was also said to allow the enforcement of different types of orders that are not currently allowed.

A handout at the meeting stated that the Town has limited administrative authority to deny applications, and Council approval is required only when an exemption is sought for a large fill operation.

During the meeting, residents raised various concerns, including the source of the imported fill, enforcement challenges, realistic limits, and more.

Resident Gord Boughner posed the question to the room, “Why can’t Caledon be different?”

“Why can’t Caledon say, within this fill by-law, Caledon fill only comes from Caledon?” asked Boughner. “If Caledon wants to be different, Caledon has to think different, do something different. We do not have to take GTA fill.”

In the meeting handout, it was stated that imported soil and fill must meet the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks’ regulations.

Concerns were also raised regarding air quality implications and zoning matters.

Residents also asked questions following the recent passing of a motion at an April Planning and Development meeting, which was tabled and then passed to keep the existing Fill By-law in full force and effect.

“The effect of the motion that got ratified at Council was simply to maintain the status quo. That motion said the existing by-law remains in force, in effect, which it does, and enforcement continues under the existing by-law, which it does. That by-law did not prevent this Council from considering future by-laws being brought forward,” says Stephen Chisholm, Assistant Town Solicitor.

Staff also answered questions regarding fill coming from outside Caledon, saying that it may be “awkward” for a developer to obtain fill of the geotechnical quality they may require from the area, especially if fill from somewhere such as Toronto is “ideal.”

“We don’t want to restrict the businesses and developments in Caledon that are doing legitimate things,” says Staff.

Staff encouraged residents to continue to voice their concerns and questions on the “Have Your Say” page for the proposed by-law, which will close on May 29.

The next step is that the proposed by-law will come forward to Council; the date has not yet been set.