HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 30, 2025 - Special Council
Special Council
Meeting Minutes
Electronic Meeting
July 30, 2025 - 02:00 PM
Chair: Mayor Ashe
Present:
Mayor K. Ashe
Councillor M. Brenner
Councillor S. Butt
Councillor L. Cook
Councillor M. Nagy
Councillor D. Pickles
Councillor L. Robinson - joined the meeting at 2:17 p.m.
Regrets:
None
Also Present:
K. Bentley - Director, City Development & CBO
P. Bigioni - Director, Corporate Services & City Solicitor
R. Holborn - Director, Engineering Services
S. Cassel - City Clerk
C. Rose - Chief Planner
N. Surti - Division Head, Development Review & Urban Design
J. Yoshida - Deputy Fire Chief
R. Perera - Deputy Clerk
Call to Order/Roll Call
The City Clerk certified that all Members of Council were present and participating
electronically, save and except for Councillor Robinson.
Disclosure of Interest
1.
2.
1
No disclosures of interest were noted.
Delegations
There were no delegations.
Matters for Consideration
Memorandum from the Director, City Development & CBO
Re: Enhanced Minister’s Zoning Order Amendment Request
Southbridge Care Homes (Orchard Villa Long-Term Care)
1955 Valley Farm Road
K. Bentley, Director, City Development & CBO, appeared before Council via
electronic connection to speak to the Enhanced Minister's Zoning Order (EMZO)
Amendment Request. K. Bentley stated that the Province issued a Minister’s Zoning
Order (MZO) as requested by Southbridge Care Homes in June 2023 to permit a
multi-phased development at the property known as the Orchard Villa Long-Term
Care facility. K. Bentley noted that Pickering City Council had unanimously opposed
the MZO request in 2023; however, the Province nonetheless approved it. K.
Bentley advised that the Province had posted the new EMZO request on their
Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) on July 10, 2025, and that the
Memorandum provided details of the revisions sought by Southbridge Care Homes
to the MZO issued in 2023. K. Bentley advised that staff were seeking direction to
provide comments back to the Province.
Discussion and a question and answer period ensued between Members of Council
and staff regarding:
likelihood of area residents being unaware of the EMZO due to the lack of
public consultation conducted by the Province;
•
whether there had been any activity initiated on the 2023 MZO; •
the impacts of the Province issuing the 2023 MZO given the high number of
Orchard Villa Long-Term Care residents who died during the COVID-19
pandemic and the disrespect shown to grieving families during that time;
•
the revised EMZO being significantly different from the 2023 MZO;•
the subject area being residential and the negative impacts of the EMZO on
the community, community character, and intensification;
•
the lack of sound planning principles surrounding the EMZO;•
concerns regarding the issues at Orchard Villa Long-Term Care facility during •
3.
4.
4.1
Special Council Meeting Minutes
July 30, 2025
2
the pandemic with no assurances those issues would be addressed prior to
the consideration of issuing the new EMZO;
the report completed by the Canadian Armed Forces on the Orchard Villa
Long-Term Care facility during the COVID-19 pandemic and the number of
issues that were identified in the report;
•
clarification that the City did not have approval authority or the ability to appeal
the EMZO;
•
whether there were additional requirements that the applicant needed to
comply with aside from the Building Code to receive a building permit, given it
was a long term care facility; and,
•
whether there were any other EMZOs issued to other Ontario municipalities
and the impacts of EMZOs in relation to the loss of site plan control oversite
by the City.
•
Councillor Pickles assumed the Chair at 2:24 p.m.
Mayor Ashe resumed the Chair at 2:30 p.m.
Resolution #803/25
Moved By Councillor Brenner
Seconded By Councillor Cook
That the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing be advised that the City of
Pickering does not support the proposed amendment to Minister’s Zoning
Order, Ontario Regulation 125/23, requested by CVH (No. 6) LP (Southbridge
Care Homes) for the lands municipally known as 1955 Valley Farm Road, as
the requested amendment would result in significant adverse impacts on the
existing community related to compatibility, traffic, municipal infrastructure,
and parking, which have not been adequately assessed;
1.
That the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing be further advised that the
City of Pickering requests the revocation of Minister’s Zoning Order, Ontario
Regulation 125/23, on the basis that CVH (No. 6) LP (Southbridge Care
Homes) has not advanced the building permit application for a proposed 15-
storey mixed-use retirement facility, which was initially submitted in June 2023
and placed on hold in May 2024, despite the MZO having been approved in
June 2023; and,
2.
That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Honourable Rob Flack,
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; The Honourable Peter Bethlenfalvy,
Minister of Finance and MPP for Pickering – Uxbridge; The Honourable
Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long- Term Care; Leaders of the
3.
Special Council Meeting Minutes
July 30, 2025
3
Opposition Party; and the Leader of the Third Party.
Carried Unanimously on a Recorded Vote
Confirmatory By-law
Moved By Councillor Butt
Seconded By Councillor Pickles
That By-law 8198/25, to confirm the proceedings of the July 30, 2025 Special Council
Meeting be approved.
Carried
Adjournment
Moved By Councillor Robinson
Seconded By Councillor Cook
That the meeting be adjourned.
Carried
The meeting adjourned at 2:46 p.m.
______________________________
Kevin Ashe, Mayor
______________________________
Susan Cassel, City Clerk
5.
6.
Special Council Meeting Minutes
July 30, 2025
4