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Woodington Lake submits yet another MZO request

January 27, 2022   ·   0 Comments

A week after withdrawing an updated Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) request to the Town, Woodington Lake Management Inc. has submitted another request for consideration to Town Council. 

The development proposal was originally brought to Council in March of 2021. At that time, Woodington Lake was granted a deferral to get more information from the public. That proposal was supposed to be presented in May, but it was withdrawn several days before the Council meeting.

Woodington Lake then submitted a second request.

That request was supposed to be on the agenda for the Committee of the Whole on January 17.

The request was withdrawn on January 14.

Less than a week later, it was announced Woodington Lake had submitted yet another request for consideration for an MZO.

The request has now been placed on the agenda for an upcoming Committee of the Whole meeting on January 31.

It has not been announced why Woodington Lake has withdrawn twice only to submit a new proposal.

“The Town is currently in the process of working with the County of Simcoe as they undertake a Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) which ensures that the County’s Official Plan conforms to updated provincial plans and policies,” the Town stated. “As part of Ontario’s Planning Act, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has the authority to issue a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) to govern land uses within areas subject to the order, even if it does not meet the municipal zoning or Official Plan for that specific property. As a result of the updated Request for Consideration – Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) submitted by Woodington Lake Management Inc., a staff report will be on the Agenda for the Committee of the Whole Meeting on Monday, January 31, 2022.”

The original proposal for development included residential units, a retirement facility, and manufacturing plants. Redevelopment plans at the golf course include a new hotel, conference centre, and a spa. 

The proposed development would take place on property on the northwest side of Tottenham and north of the current Woodington Lake Golf Club.

MZOs are a controversial issue in the province.

They were originally intended to be used in sparsely populated areas that did not have a municipal government structure capable of making development decisions. Most MZOs were applied to northern parts of the province with sparsely populated areas.

A change in legislation allowed developers across the province to appeal directly to the provincial government ministry to be allowed to develop land by going over the authority of local municipalities.

When granting an MZO, the province only gives a “yes or no” answer and does not place any restrictions if one is granted.

This has caused many local groups to complain that an MZO allows developers to build on sensitive areas with no regard for environmental issues.

The proposed development has received considerable opposition from local residents who say doubling the size of the Town will have a negative impact.

By Brian Lockhart
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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