Introduction

 

Over the past year and a half, the Four Seasons Conservancy (FSC) has successfully negotiated the purchase of a Conservation Easement on 42 Wintergreen Lane, as well as the sale of that lot to a new owner. These transactions closed on May 28, 2026. 

 

These steps were taken in response to a proposal from the previous owners of the property to develop it.

 

In addition, FSC and the owners of the other properties on Wintergreen Lane are finalizing the process to place conservation easements on those owners’ properties as well.

 

These conservation easements will ensure the long-term protection of the Wintergreen Lane properties for conservation and non-motorized recreational use.

 

To support the acquisition of these conservation easements, FSC is now fundraising. Our fundraising goal is $300,000. This amount includes the purchase price of the Conservation Easements as well as related closing costs, including legal fees. 

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Background

 

42 Wintergreen Lane (shaded lot)

[please note that even the “non-CEA Portion” of the lot may not be severed or subdivided]

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• 1995: Private lots on Wintergreen Lane (including 42 Wintergreen Lane) are created as part of the purchase of east-end lands from AECL (although Wintergreen Lane itself was in fact built a few years later).

 

• 2003: Original owner sells 42 Wintergreen Lane to new owners. 

 

• 2003-2024: Rules for minimum lot sizes, frontages, etc., change several times, making severance much easier.

 

• Late 2024 - Early 2025: Owners of 42 Wintergreen Lane apply to the Town for an amendment to the Town’s Official Plan. The application proposes that the lot would be severed into six (6) lots. A public information meeting is held by the Town at which significant opposition to the application is voiced. 

 

The owners amend their application such that the property would instead be divided into five (5) lots, and the middle portion of the lot would be left as “open space”. The Town holds another public information meeting at which significant opposition continues to be voiced.

 

• May-June 2025: Mediation takes place between FSC and the owners. Mediation is conducted by an independent mediator, paid for by the Town.

 

• Mid-2025: A private party expresses interest in purchasing the lot for its as-is (i.e. unsevered) value and protecting the existing trail area.

 

• July 2025 - Jan 2026: Negotiations continue between FSC and the owners. Extensive discussions are held between the private party, the owners of the other lots on Wintergreen Lane, and FSC on the terms of a potential conservation easement.

 

• Jan 2026: An Agreement of Purchase and Sale is entered into by the private party and the owners, whereby the private party will purchase the property.

 

• Jan-May 2026: Extensive discussions held on the purchase process and the conservation easement terms between the private party, FSC and their respective lawyers.

 

• May 28, 2026: Closing date. The private party purchases 42 Wintergreen Lane. FSC purchases conservation easement from the private party for $250,000. On a net basis, the private party has paid what they, FSC and the other Wintergreen lot owners consider to be a reasonable price for the lot, encumbered by the conservation easement.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is a conservation easement?

 

A conservation easement in Ontario is a voluntary, legally binding agreement registered on land title, allowing owners to protect natural or cultural heritage features permanently while retaining ownership. These tailored agreements, authorized under the Conservation Land Act, restrict specific activities (e.g., development, subdivision) to protect agricultural land, water quality, or natural habitats. The terms of the conservation easement purchased by the FSC allow for the construction of one dwelling on the river but prohibits, among other things, any severance or subdivision of the lot.

 

Would the Town have approved the previous owners’ application?

 

We don’t know for sure. However, the Town did recently approve another controversial amendment application, on Avon. In addition, even if the Town had denied the application, or if the Town failed to make a decision within a certain period of time, the owners would have had the right to appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal which was established and is guided by the current pro-development Conservative government. We believe it is likely that the owners would have succeeded in severing the property, had they continued to pursue their project.

 

Wasn’t the property already protected?

 

A right-of-way (ROW) in favour of FSC and the other Wintergreen Lane owners was already registered on title. This right-of-way allows trails within 200 feet of any dwelling. It is unclear whether this existing right-of-way would have prevented the severance of lot. JP2G consultants, on behalf of the owners, asserted that it did not. FSC consciously decided not to pursue the strategy of relying on the existing ROW, opting instead to pursue a solution that will result in firmer protections for the Wintergreen Lane properties, going forward.

 

Is this Conservation Easement really worth $250,000?

 

In part on the basis of significant commitments of financial support, FSC determined that it was willing to pay this amount. In addition to a Conservation Easement on 42 Wintergreen Lane, the owners of the other lots on Wintergreen Lane have expressed their willingness to donate Conservation Easements on their properties to FSC. Discussions between FSC and these other owners are in an advanced stage. This fundraising should, therefore, lead to the conservation and the protection, in perpetuity, of a significant portion of the trail network. Lastly, we feel that this fundraising demonstrates the community’s ongoing commitment to the conservation of the east-end lands.