Wilmot council needs more time to consider MZO for housing development: Mayor

Wilmot Township councillors "simply need more time and information" before making a decision about a ministerial zoning order for a new 1,200-unit housing development, Mayor Les Armstrong says.

On Tuesday night, council heard from Cachet Developments, which is requesting the ministerial zoning order (MZO), as well as 14 members of the community.

Cachet Developments wants to rezone land to create a mixed-use development with plans for at least 1,200 residential units, commercial spaces, parks, trails and links to public transit and a community agri-hub. It's asked for a MZO, through the provincial minister of municipal affairs, which allows it to bypass local planning rules.

In a news release after the meeting, Armstrong said council learned of the application for the MZO just before Christmas.

Given that this is the township's first MZO request and it's a "significant development in our township," councillors need to take their time "before we can decide whether to support an MZO application as the best approach to help us meet the growth needs of our community," Armstrong said.

Coun. Angie Hallman tweeted her thanks to people who spoke at the council meeting Tuesday.

"Let's embrace thoughtful, responsible, and purposeful planning and growth that is good for the community, farming and the environment," Hallman tweeted.

More meetings planned

The province says on its website that a MZO is a "critical tool that can be used to support and expedite the delivery of government priorities, including transit-oriented communities, affordable housing, long-term care homes and strategic economic recovery projects by removing potential barriers and delays."

But MZOs cannot be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal and some have been critical of their use:

• Last year, local MPPs criticized the City of Cambridge for endorsing an MZO without consulting Six Nations of the Grand River.
• In Stratford, the city approved, then asked the province to rescind, an MZO for a proposed glass company to build a factory in the city.
• There was also concern about an Amazon warehouse proposed to be built on a wetland in Pickering which has since been cancelled.

Wilmot council said it plans to hold an education session on Jan. 10 to learn more about the MZO process from the township's lawyer. There will be a special council meeting held Feb. 14 before council formally considers the application in open session on Feb. 28.