Stouffville chamber urges town to act on reducing land development restrictions
For the town to grow its industrial and commercial base, it requires more approved land, Chamber says

Yokregion.com
March 15, 2017
By Ali Raza

Three quarters of Stouffville’s residents leave the town every morning for work, the Stouffville Chamber of Commerce wants to see that change.

In an open letter sent to Whitchurch-Stouffville mayor and council this month, the chamber implores the town’s municipal leaders to address provincial and regional land development legislation that “restricts Stouffville’s growth prospects”.

Executive director Harry Renaud said the chamber addressed mayor and council after reviewing the 2016 Employment and Industry Report for York Region.

“There’s no question, York Region is growing,” Renaud said. “But from Stouffville’s point of view, we’re left way behind.”

Renaud explained that for the town to grow its industrial and commercial base, it requires more approved land.

Current legislation, including the Moraine Act, Green Belt, Provincial Land Use Act and others, make that prospect challenging. Renaud provided an example of lands east of Hwy. 404 in Gormley.

“It’s too expensive to develop, but it’s also restricted,” he said. “Expense is one thing, but restrictions we can do something about. If you remove restrictions, developers will build.”

The chamber argues that more developed land will enhance and diversify Stouffville’s tax base as well as making “living and working at the same place more viable.”