The Scugog Council met on September 16, at the monthly Planning and Community Affairs (PCA) Committee meeting, to discuss Avenu Development’s request for council to support their proposal for an MZO (Minister Zoning Order) to develop lands near Castle Harbour Drive.
This proposed project planned for mixed housing densities, commercial and other facilities in the area of Castle Harbour Drive. When making their decision, Scugog Council took into account the proposal from Avenu, the opinion of staff and the planning consultant, legal as well as the opinions of stakeholders and the public at large.
After considering all of the above, council voted to endorse staff’s recommendation not to support Avenu’s MZO request, said a township notice.
At the September 23 council meeting, the decision from the PCA committee meeting was brought for ratification. After receiving delegations from members of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation (MSIFN), community groups, as well as a number of residents, council opted to uphold the decision made at the PCA committee meeting and deny Avenu’s request to support their MZO proposal, recommending they proceed through a regular municipal planning process.
“Scugog Council appreciates the information that has been presented to council regarding a request to support an MZO. We respect and take note of the many delegations, both on September 16 and again on September 23 speaking on the issue and expressing their concerns,” Mayor Wilma Wotten told participants at the meeting,
“Council will remain open to considering all options in the area of housing, health and social solutions to best serve the needs of our growing community,” said Scugog Mayor Wilma Wotten.
The area of land near Castle Harbour Drive is designated in the Scugog Official Plan for residential. Information on all areas designated for urban development can be viewed through the Official Plan at scugog.ca/officialplan.