Request for a Minister’s Zoning Order for a secondary school and mixed-use development in the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is consulting on a request for a Minister’s Zoning Order. 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 Minister is considering a request for a Minister’s Zoning Order to permit a new secondary school and mixed-use development in the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury.

The proposed development would be located on approximately 80 hectares of land, with the proposed secondary school site occupying approximately 8 hectares.  The subject lands are located adjacent and south of the Bradford settlement area boundary, outside the Greenbelt Plan Area, and the lands are currently designated as agricultural.

The proposed secondary school site would be centrally located on the subject lands.  The surrounding mixed-use development would comprise the remaining area of the subject lands.  The specific details (e.g. dwelling unit type, number of units, density, etc.) of the proposed mixed-use development have not been finalized by the proponent. However, based on the conceptual plan provided with the request, the majority of these lands are proposed as residential.

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury has confirmed that sufficient municipal servicing capacity is available to accommodate the proposed secondary school but noted that upgrades to existing municipal water and wastewater infrastructure will be required to service the surrounding mixed-use development. 

The Ministry received a letter from the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury on October 21, 2024, containing an October 15, 2024 council resolution (2024-220) indicating that Council has endorsed the request for a Minister’s Zoning Order for the subject lands provided the school site is transferred to the Simcoe County District School Board to expedite construction of a secondary school on the lands.

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 is seeking additional information from the public and other stakeholders that may help inform a decision.