Opening northeast Pickering for development in conflict with future airport flight path

Mayor Kevin Ashe wants long-standing zoning restrictions in northeast Pickering revoked to allow for development, a move that would come in conflict with a future airport the federal government has been considering for more than half a century.

Ashe insisted in his letter to Housing Minister Paul Calandra (issued through Strong Mayor Powers and not from a Council directive) that opening up development in a 3,445-acre chunk of land north of Seaton is “separate and independent” from the airport issue, which has been debated and considered since the airport lands were expropriated in 1972.

“The Regional Official Plan does not limit an airport nor depend on one,” Ashe said in his letter. “In fact, planning and developing Northeast Pickering will help inform the federal government’s decision making on whether or not to site an airport in Pickering.”

Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe

Pickering Councillor Maurice Brenner, however, said it would be “ludicrous” to revoke the Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) without considering the consequences. The problem, he said, is not the future airport but the flight path planes would use to get there.

The MZO was put in place to keep housing and airplanes separate – “they didn’t want conflict between the flight path and housing” – and until Ottawa makes a determination on an airport it would make zero sense to revoke it, Brenner noted.

“This could be a real problem.”

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Pickering Councillor Maurice Brenner

The federal government would need to be consulted before Queen’s Park made any decision on Ashe’s request, as would the nearby Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, he added. “Chief LaRocca has been very clear that Strong Mayor Powers do not cancel the obligation to consult with Indigenous communities.”

“Proper consultation requires more than engagement after decisions are made – Indigenous people deserve genuine partnership and mutual respect,” Kelly LaRocca said after she and her Council met with Ashe May 10. “We look forward to continuing this conversation with members of Pickering council in the coming weeks.”

Brenner said it would be “inappropriate” for Calandra to make any changes to the northeast Pickering lands without those discussions, adding that he hoped Calandra “would not even consider” the request without consulting the federal government.

Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation Chief Kelly LaRocca

The current restrictions apply to about 8,800 acres (Ashe is hoping to open up a little less than half of those lands) in an area between the Seaton community and the 9,600-acres that remain of the airport lands.

Ashe wants the lands re-zoned to meet housing obligations set out by the provincial government, which has set targets for each municipality to build 1.5 million new homes over the next decade.

“As a Strong Mayor, I am fully committed to advancing the provincial priorities of building 1.5 million new homes in Ontario and constructing the necessary infrastructure needed to support this housing,” Ashe said in his letter to Calandra, adding that the future needs of a potential airport “have been considered” throughout the process.

“Restrictions regarding a potential airport are outlined in the Regional Official Plan, which makes it clear that constructing an airport and developing Northeast Pickering are separate and independent matters,” he said. “The Regional Official Plan does not limit an airport nor depend on one.”

Northeast Pickering, if opened for development, will accommodate more than 40,000 residents and 10,000 jobs, but the City’s own Secondary Plan for the area declares that developing the lands will require extensive new infrastructure, including additions to road capacity, active transportation and transit, as well as a full range of community services and facilities.

Northeast Pickering is also a prime agricultural area, and future development will need to consider and mitigate impacts to the agricultural sector.

Brenner said he is anxious to hear what happens next regarding Ashe’s request, and to hear what – if any – consultations with other interested parties take place.

“It will be interesting to see how all this plays out.”