Request for Minister's Zoning Order to support Picton Terminals in Prince Edward County

An MZO, made pursuant to clause 47(1)(a) of the Planning Act, regulates the use of land and the erection, location and use of any building or structure on the land, and prevails over the existing municipal zoning by-law to the extent there is any conflict.

The Minister is considering a request from Prince Edward County to make an MZO for the lands at 24, 130, 167, 203, 253 and 254 White Chapel Road (Picton Terminals) in Prince Edward County. The site is approximately 62 hectares in size and is situated north and south of White Chapel Road, along the north shore of Picton Bay and east of County Road 49. See link to location map below.

The site currently provides port services for shipping throughout the St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes Region and offers services including crane loading and unloading of materials, long-term covered storage for dry stockpile, and processing of aggregate materials on-site. Portions of the subject lands located south of White Chapel Road are currently designated Rural Industrial Land in Prince Edward County's Official Plan and zoned a combination of Extractive Industrial, Environmental Protection and Rural 1 under Prince Edward County's Zoning By-law 1816-2006; while portions of the subject lands located north of White Chapel Road are currently designated Agricultural Area and zoned Rural 1 and Rural 1-65.

The requested MZO seeks to permit marine shipping and storage uses to support economic development in Prince Edward County and the surrounding region. 

Specifically, the requested MZO seeks to:

• Permit trans-shipment of bulk commodities as a use for portions of 24 White Chapel Road which were historically zoned for Industrial Extractive activities;
• Expand permissions for trans-shipment of bulk commodities to all other portions of 24 White Chapel Road as well as the other parcels included in this request;
• Add warehousing in wholly enclosed buildings, as well as open storage as an accessory use to the permitted uses for all parcels;
• Introduce provisions specific for open storage areas related to lot coverage and vertical stacking of storage containers, landscaped berms, and setbacks. These provisions are for the purposes of screening to enhance land use compatibility; and
• Identify that trans-shipment and storage of bulk commodities would exclude garbage, nuclear waste, and substances included on the Toxic Substances List under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

To help ensure decisions are made in a transparent manner and support government priorities, the Ministry is seeking feedback on whether this request should be considered and any additional information that may help inform a decision. In particular, any potential environmental risks, financial impacts on the municipality or implications for other approved developments and how these can be mitigated.