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:
July 10, 2025
to August 9, 2025
Decision summary
On November 20, 2025, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing filed a Minister's Zoning Order with the Registrar of Regulations as Ontario Regulation (O. Reg.) 255/25 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. 255/25 applies to approximately 1.38 hectares of land at 188 Sandiford Drive in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. See Location Map below.
Ontario Regulation (O. Reg.) 255/25 overrides the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville’s zoning by-law as it applies to the subject lands to permit laundry facility and cooking facility within individual units and individual dwelling units in a seniors care facility. O. Reg. 255/25 also overrides the zoning provision that puts a 219-voltage limit within units in a seniors care facility.
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
All comments received were taken into consideration prior to a decision being made. One comment received was in support of the request.
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.
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 the Sheriff Corporation (Gottardo Group of Companies) to make an MZO for the lands at 188 Sandiford Drive in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. This request has support from the Mayor of the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville.
The site is approximately 1.38 hectares in size and is situated on the northwest corner of Sandiford Drive and Hoover Park Drive. See link to location map below.
The site is currently vacant. The subject lands are currently zoned “Employment Business Park – Exception Eighteen Zone (EBP(18))” in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Zoning By-law 2010-001-ZO, which currently permits a six-storey seniors’ care facility, with some restrictions.
Specifically, the MZO is seeking to permit laundry and cooking facilities by removing the town's by-law restriction of 219 volts within individual units (i.e., laundry and full-sized ovens appliances are not permitted), and to permit dwelling units (i.e., units with full kitchen and bathroom facilities within individual units).
If made, this MZO request would allow up to 212 units providing a range of care services to its residents either directly through its staff or indirectly through another provider within the already permitted six-storey senior’s care facility. This facility could include one or more common kitchen(s) and dining room(s), as well as laundry and cooking facilities in an individual dwelling unit.
This request is being made to expedite approvals for this proposal that would provide additional options for seniors housing.
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, such as any potential environmental risks, financial impacts on the municipality or implications for other approved developments and how these can be mitigated.
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
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from July 10, 2025
to August 9, 2025
Connect with us
Contact
mmahzoningorders@ontario.ca
12th floor
777 Bay Street
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2J3
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
1By email
0By mail
0