There is no requirement to post this notice on the Environmental Registry of Ontario, but we wanted to hear your thoughts. Thank you for your feedback.
This consultation was open from:
November 20, 2024
to December 20, 2024
Decision summary
On July 30, 2025, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing filed a Minister's Zoning Order with the Registrar of Regulations as Ontario Regulation (O. Reg.) 160/25 in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville.
Decision details
A Zoning Order, made pursuant to clause 47(1)(a) of the Planning Act, regulates the use of the land and the erection, location and use of any building or structure on the land. The Minister's Zoning Order was made based on a request from the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville.
O. Reg. 160/25 applies to approximately 2 hectares of land at 176 Sandiford Drive in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. See Location Map below.
Ontario Regulation (O. Reg.) 160/25 permits apartment buildings in addition to uses, buildings and structures that are already permitted in the Town zoning by-law on the subject lands. O. Reg. 160/25 also specifies:
- Maximum building heights of 70 metres, with the exception of building heights within a 50-metre setback from the lot line parallel to Hoover Park Drive, which are limited to 41 metres;
- Minimum number of parking spaces per dwelling unit is 0.5 space per unit; and
- Twenty-five percent of all required parking spaces be designated as visitor parking spaces.
The MZO also includes a provision that exempts the official plan applying to any downstream approvals, licenses, or permits that may still be required to be obtained.
Pursuant to the subsection 47(4) of the Planning Act, and except for the purposes of section 24, the Minister deemed this zoning order to be a by-law passed by the council of the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville.
Effects of consultation
Concerns expressed about the proposal included:
- The importance of preserving the Town’s employment lands.
- Incompatibility of these sensitive uses on the long-term operations of a neighbouring manufacturing facility.
- Lack of information and studies to address the provision of adequate parking, traffic impacts and infrastructure capacity.
- Bypassing municipal planning approvals and associated public consultation.
- The building heights are not compatible with surrounding low-density residential areas.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
12th floor
777 Bay Street
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2J3
Canada
Connect with us
Contact
mmahzoningorders@ontario.ca
12th floor
777 Bay Street
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2J3
Canada
Original proposal
Why consultation isn't required
Part II of the Environmental Bill of Rights Act, 1993 does not apply to proposals to make a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) under subsection 47(1) of the Planning Act, or to amend or revoke an MZO under subsection 47(8) of the Planning Act.
Although not required, the ministry is providing public notice of this request for consultation
Proposal details
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is consulting on a request for a Minister’s Zoning Order. This request has written support from the Minister of Seniors and Accessibility and the Mayor of the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville.
A Minister’s Zoning Order, 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.
The Ministry is in receipt of a request for a Minister’s Zoning Order from the Mon Sheong Foundation for an apartment building with approximately 900 units in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, on lands municipally known as 162-176 Sandiford Drive.
The Subject Lands are approximately 4.09 hectares bound by Sandiford Drive to the north and east, and Hoover Park Drive to the south. The Subject Lands contain an existing 320 long-term bed care facility in operation since 2021, as well as a continuum of care campus currently under construction. See location map below.
If made, the requested Minister’s Zoning Order would permit:
- a long-term care home up to a maximum height of 70m
- a senior’s care facility up to a maximum height of 70m
- an apartment building up to a maximum height of 70m
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.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
16th floor
777 Bay Street
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2J3
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from November 20, 2024
to December 20, 2024
Connect with us
Contact
mmahzoningorders@ontario.ca
12th floor
777 Bay Street
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2J3
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
6By email
3By mail
0