The Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, approved Seguin Township’s request for a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) on March 17, allowing for future residential development on 743 acres of Seguin Township land.
“This decision is a huge step in the right direction for the West Parry Sound Area where far too many people struggle to find a home,” said Seguin Township Mayor Ann MacDiarmid. “I want to thank Minister Steve Clark for recognizing this need and supporting Seguin Township’s suggested solution.”
Seguin Township submitted the MZO application in January 2022 to expediate the process of expanding lands available for residential development in the region. The application included findings from a high-level environmental assessment, letters of support from private and public sector leaders, and several neighbouring municipalities.
“The provincial government is doing everything it can to make home ownership more affordable and more attainable,” said MPP Graydon Smith, Parry Sound-Muskoka. “West Parry Sound is growing and the demand for housing is rising. This is why we’re working with municipalities like Seguin to help them build more homes for more people. I want to congratulate Mayor MacDiarmid and Council for working so hard to get this done. Seguin and Ontario are taking action to solve the housing problem,” added Smith.
This rezoning process will create opportunities for mixed-use development. It will also create net-new Environmental Protection (EP) zones in areas that previously had no designation.