Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville - Approval of a municipality’s official plan

In July 2024, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing received for a decision the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville’s new official plan (By-law 2024-057-OP) which was adopted by the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville's municipal council on May 15, 2024.

The More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 (Bill 23) made changes that will when in effect remove statutory powers under the Planning Act from seven upper-tier municipalities identified in the legislation. The effective date for York Region is July 1, 2024. As such, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing is now the approval authority for official plans and official plan amendments for lower-tier municipalities in York Region.

The Ministry will review the matter for consistency and conformity with applicable provincial land use policies and plans and will consider all feedback received before presenting any potential modifications to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for a decision in accordance with sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act.

The new official plan, once approved, will replace the existing plan, which came into effect in 2004. The new plan is intended to guide growth and physical (land use) change across the planning area, while incorporating provincial objectives and community-driven priorities. The proposed official plan will be reviewed for consistency with the Provincial Policy Statement and conformity with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, Greenbelt Plan, Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, Lake Simcoe Protection Plan and matters of provincial interest as expressed in the Planning Act, where applicable.