Minister’s Zoning Order responds to City’s request and will help add to the supply of new housing while protecting City’s drinking water supply
GUELPH ― The Ontario government is using a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) to help lay the groundwork for much-needed housing in the City of Guelph, while protecting the City of Guelph’s drinking water supply for years to come.
The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has granted Guelph City Council’s request for an MZO, which enables homes to be built faster on the site of the Dolime Quarry lands in the Township of Guelph/Eramosa. Guelph’s City Council passed a council resolution requesting this MZO on July 19, 2021, following several years of public consultation.
“Young families, seniors and all hardworking Ontarians are desperate for housing that meets their needs and budget. As Ontario enters a period of economic recovery, we are working hard to protect our progress and increase the supply of housing our province needs,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “I’m proud to grant the City of Guelph’s request for a Minister’s Zoning Order to help build more homes faster, all while protecting the drinking water for the people of Guelph and Eramosa.”
Ontario is balancing responsible growth with protecting the environment for future generations. This MZO will also protect sensitive groundwater beneath the Dolime Quarry lands, from which the City draws its drinking water.
The Minister has also approved the City of Guelph and Township of Guelph/Eramosa’s proposal to transfer jurisdiction of the quarry lands to the City from the Township. The annexation of the Dolime lands is part of a quarry rehabilitation initiative to protect drinking water, following several years of public consultation by the municipalities. The annexation and MZO will come into effect on January 1, 2022.
“Every step we’ve made toward protecting our community’s drinking water has felt like progress, but this one is the big one,” said Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie. “I want to thank Minister Steve Clark for upholding our community-supported solution to a complex problem. The approval of our requests makes the province’s commitment to addressing drinking water protection loud and clear, and also, over the longer term, supports the need to address the housing crisis our province faces.”
Everyone has a role to play in fixing Ontario’s housing crisis. Ontario will continue to work with municipal partners to help them use the tools the province has provided to unlock housing and make finding a home more affordable for hardworking Ontarians. This includes working with municipalities through the upcoming Provincial-Municipal Housing Summit and a special session with rural municipalities leading up to the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference in January 2022.
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