PORT PERRY, ONT. — The environmental advocacy group Environmental Defence has issued a statement praising Scucog, Ont. council for voting down a request for a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) that would have fast-tracked a housing development proposal.
Earlier this month council voted 4-2 against a request from Avenu Properties Corporation to expedite a housing development that was proposed for property directly on and adjacent to provincially significant wetlands along the shores of Lake Scugog, stated a release.
“This was a win for Lake Scugog and the engaged local community that rallied to block Avenu Properties’ MZO request,” stated the release.
In December 2024, Avenu requested Scugog council to use the community infrastructure housing accelerator under Section 34.1 of the Planning Act to advance the housing community and related infrastructure development in Port Perry.
The developer has not had meaningful consultations with Indigenous people, including the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, stated Environmental Defence.
The developer also lacks important technical and environmental studies such as an updated environmental impact statement/natural heritage evaluation, flood mitigation study, and hydrogeological and geotechnical studies, the advocacy group asserted.
Dozens of residents from the Township of Scugog were reported to have spoken before council in opposition to the proposed development.
“In recent years, the Ontario government has slashed environmental protections, including Ontario’s Wetland Evaluation System, leaving our wetlands even more exposed to damage and destruction caused by poorly sited development projects,” stated Environmental Defence.
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