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

A decision was made on September 18, 2026 to refuse the parts of the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Official Plan, as adopted pursuant to sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act by By-law 2024-057, that were previously withheld as part of the Minister’s decision on September 25, 2025. Notice of the Decision to refuse the previously withheld parts was issued on September 18, 2026.

The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville adopted a municipally-initiated Official Plan Amendment to update their employment area policies and maps, which came into effect on July 13, 2026, as no appeals were filed.

Previously, a decision was made on September 25, 2025, to approve in part, with one-hundred and thirty-one (131) modifications, the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Official Plan, as adopted pursuant to sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act by By-law 2024-057. Notice of that Decision was issued on September 25, 2025. 

The adopted official plan was reviewed for conformity and consistency with provincial plans and policies and to ensure regard for matters of provincial interest as outlined in the Planning Act.  

The one hundred and thirty-one (131) modifications to the official plan were made to address provincial policy direction, changes to upper-tier planning authority, growth management, hamlet and rural settlements, inclusionary zoning, servicing, wellhead protection zones, planned corridors, the natural heritage system, wetlands, aggregate extraction and operations, the agricultural system and built heritage resources. 

A decision was withheld at that time on maps and policies related to the Town’s Employment Areas so that the Town could undertake a review and make updates for compliance with the new definition of “area of employment” under the Planning Act and for consistency with the new definition of “Employment area” under the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024.The approved Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Official Plan outlines a comprehensive land use policy framework to guide growth and development within the Town to the year 2051, including policies that establish growth management; establish protected major transit station areas; provide for a wide range of housing options and transportation options; plans for infrastructure and servicing; protect the natural heritage system and water resources; protect the agricultural system, and other matters.

Pursuant to subsections 17(36.5) and (38.1) of the Planning Act, the decision of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding an official plan adopted in accordance with section 26 is final and not subject to appeal.  Accordingly, the new Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Official Plan, as modified and approved in part by the Minister, came into effect on September 25, 2025.  The subsequent decision to refuse the remaining parts of the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Official Plan, came into effect on September 18, 2026.