Stouffville council endorses plan for 507-unit Hwy. 48 development

Markham's Flato Developments is seeking to develop land currently zoned agricultural

Yorkregion.com
February 27, 2020
Simon Martin

Could agricultural land on Hwy. 48, at the Markham-Stouffville border, be developed by the stroke of the pen from Queen’s Park? It seems the answer is yes.

Whitchurch-Stouffville council endorsed Flato Developments’ plan to develop 353 seniors' units on 8.4 hectares of land not zoned for development. Flato would seek planning approval for the project which also involves 154 units in Markham through a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) as the land is currently zoned agricultural and considered "whitebelt" (meaning outside the greenbelt and undeveloped, but not protected from future urban development).

“This is maybe a deviation from the normal planning process but it is addressing a major issue in our community,” Mayor Iain Lovatt said.  The mayor said it has become abundantly clear there is a lack of affordable housing and lack of seniors' housing in the area in the wake of 36 residents receiving evictions from a Rupert Avenue apartment earlier in February. “We are at such a deficit for providing affordable housing in our community,” he said.

Other members of council were on board with the idea but cautioned that this is just a first step.

“I think this will be welcome addition to our municipality. This is the kind of housing we need,” Ward 3 Coun. Hugo Kroon said.

It was much the same song from Ward 4 Coun. Rick Upton. “To me it’s a real plus. It is an exciting proposition,” he said.

The lone, dissenting member of council was Ward 6 Coun. Sue Sherban who said residents, for the most part, favour keeping greenspaces in the community. “I find that we are piecemealing the community,” she said. “We should hear from residents before we are telling the minister this is great for Whitchurch-Stouffville.

Resident Rod Taylor also voiced his concern with the lack of greenspace in the proposal. “We are talking about 25 acres or so and just a quick glance and I notice a lack of greenspace in the development,” he said.

Last year, council directed staff to undertake a joint visioning exercise with the City of Markham for the Highway 48 corridor lands. The process started in December 2019 and is expected to be completed by August 2020. Flato, along with other landowners in the Hwy. 48 Corridor, agreed to fund the estimated $90,000 for the visioning exercise last year.

According to a staff report dated Jan. 8, 2020, Flato approached the town with a proposal to develop 353 units and an additional 154 units within Markham on the west side of Hwy. 48.

On Feb. 10, 2020, town staff were approached by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing advising that the minister would like to have a town council position before issuing the zoning order, and that it is unlikely they could hold off on this decision until the town and Markham completes the Highway 48 Visioning Exercise.

Flato has advised staff that it sees significant provincial interests involved in the proposal and intends to seek planning approvals through a request for a Minister’s Zoning Order under Section 47 of the Planning Act. However, Flato will work with town staff, and pay all applicable fees, to ensure all studies and consultation requirements by the Planning Act are met.

Last year, Flato made an impression in Stouffville, when it made a $500,000 endowment, along with Wyview Group, to Whitchurch-Stouffville Legacy Fund at Lovatt’s Gala #ForStouffville event.  The fund provides grants and donations to service groups, clubs and charities in Whitchurch-Stouffville. “To end the evening by announcing the $500,000 endowment for the Whitchurch-Stouffville Legacy Fund (WSLF) just put things over the top,” Lovatt said at the time. “I can’t thank Mr. Rehmatullah of Flato Developments and Mr. Wang of the Wyview Group enough for their commitment to the people of Whitchurch-Stouffville.”

The WSLF website states that it is funded by the charitable efforts of Lovatt and a volunteer committee which plans and executes two events: the Charity Golf Classic and the Mayor's Gala #ForStouffville. Lovatt also posted pictures on Instagram last year with him, Flato CEO Shakir Rehmatullah and Premier Doug Ford with the caption “Bending some political ears to move our plan for WS forward.”

When asked if this endowment represented a conflict of interest, Lovatt said it did not.

“I do not have any conflict. I personally am not benefiting in any way from any developer who contributes to the Whitchurch Stouffville Legacy Fund,” Lovatt said. “I also have no influence or direction on how those funds are dispersed to the community. That is done by an independent board. It is our community who wins through these contributions.”