Ontario Construction News staff writer
Mayor Kevin Ashe has requested the removal of a decades-old Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) that restricts most development in Northeast Pickering. Enacted over 50 years ago by a previous provincial government, the MZO was originally intended to mitigate potential housing and resident issues related to a future airport in the area.
In a recent letter to Paul Calandra, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Ashe said the municipality’s focus must shift towards building more homes as part of Pickering’s plan for sustainable growth.
“This plan has no bearing on the development of an airport in any capacity,” Ashe said in his letter, underscoring that the current needs and priorities of the community have evolved significantly since the MZO’s implementation.
The letter also addressed concerns about Greenbelt lands within Northeast Pickering, urging that these sensitive areas, never intended for development, would remain protected.
“We all want to see the continued protection of the Greenbelt lands in Northeast Pickering,” Ashe reiterated, noting that these parcels were excluded from the Urban Area Boundary in the Durham Regional Official Plan.
The push for development in Northeast Pickering is backed by local governance. Pickering Council recently passed a resolution supporting future development in the area, which was subsequently included in the new Regional Official Plan adopted by Durham Regional Council. Mayor Ashe’s letter aligns with these positions, reflecting a unified stance on the issue.
Envision Durham, an Official Plan Review process, involved extensive public and stakeholder consultation over five years. The review’s Land Needs Assessment and Growth Allocations highlighted that Northeast Pickering could accommodate over 40,000 residents and 10,000 jobs. Mayor Ashe emphasized that building more homes is a shared commitment among all levels of government.
“My letter to the minister reinforces this collective priority and outlines decisive action that should be taken in order to help achieve our critical goal of sustainable development,” Ashe stated, urging Minister Calandra to act promptly in support of the city’s strategic growth plans.
As Pickering faces increasing pressure to address housing shortages, the removal of the outdated MZO is seen as a crucial step towards facilitating the city’s sustainable development and addressing the urgent housing needs of its growing population.