Public input needed before Cambridge can approve any provincial MZOs, say councillors

Any ministerial zoning orders proposed for Cambridge must first go through a public consultation process before city council can approve them.

City councillors voted unanimously in favour of making public consultations mandatory during a meeting Tuesday evening after community outrage over a recent decision to allow a warehouse in the city.

A ministerial zoning order, or MZO, allows the provincial minister of municipal affairs to bypass local planning rules to spur development.

The province says on its website that an MZO is a "critical tool that can be used to support and expedite the delivery of government priorities, including transit-oriented communities, affordable housing, long-term care homes and strategic economic recovery projects by removing potential barriers and delays."

But the use of MZOs has been controversial. The province has been criticized for pushing through projects in Toronto. There was also concern about an Amazon warehouse proposed to be built on a wetland in Pickering which has since been cancelled, as well as a case in Stratford where the city approved, then asked the province to rescind, an MZO for a proposed glass company to build a factory in the city.

Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife, who serves as the NDP's finance critic, said in March that at least 19 MZOs have benefited PC party donors and insiders.

In response to Fife, Premier Doug Ford said the former Liberal government also used MZOs and his government is "proud" to issue the orders.

"I want more MZOs to stir the economy, to get jobs out there," Ford said.

Cambridge warehouse causes stir

The issue of MZOs came to light in Cambridge recently after news a developer wanted to build a 100,000 square meter warehouse with 110 loading docks and parking for more than 800 automobiles and 350 transport trucks in the Blair area of the city, just south of the Kitchener Conestoga College campus and Highway 401.

In a vote of 9-0, city council approved the MZO for the warehouse, to be built by Broccolini Real Estate Group, during a special council meeting on April 6. It has not been made public what company will use the warehouse.

Members of the community have expressed outrage over the decision and some of them spoke at council Tuesday night.

Derek Coleman has been a resident of Hespeler for 46 years and works as a professional planner. He said the province's use of MZOs is of considerable concern to him.

"What was intended to be used sparingly for urgent situations has become a way to bypass protections and principles of the Planning Act," he said.

There should be a need shown for the development which includes a planning justification report and the development should still need to follow certain processes, Coleman said.

Calls for transparency grow

Ed Vos, who lives on John Bricker Road in Cambridge, told councillors that a month ago, he didn't know much about MZOs, but he quickly learned about them.

He said MZOs are not a democratic planning process and said Cambridge council knows what's best for the city, not the province.

"Any new development in our backyard is probably going to outlive all of us, so let's work together and make sure it's right for all of us and our community," Vos said.

Mary McGrath, a mother of three who has lived in Cambridge for 10 years, said she was glad to see the city address the use of MZOs locally.

"I think it's unfortunate that this strategic thinking is coming after the appearance of several MZOs in the City of Cambridge already," she said and called on council to be more open and transparent going forward.

"There's a loud and growing demand from residents and communities across Ontario for transparency."

In a motion Tuesday night, Coun. Jan Liggett proposed bringing all MZOs to the public before council approves them. It was seconded by Coun. Mike Devine and received full council support.

City staff have been directed to draft policies for how that public consultation would take place and it's expected a report will come back to council before the end of the year.