NANTICOKE—Several residents filed into Council chambers on June 18, 2024 to take part in renewed discussions around a new Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) request related to the potential large-scale development in Nanticoke, proposed by Empire Homes, after the initial MZO request was denied due to provincial policy changes.
The MZO request was first introduced in February 2022, when the previous Council voted unanimously to send the request to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs. No update of a decision was heard until April 10, 2024, when Haldimand Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley was notified by letter that the file had been rejected as a result of the province launching a new framework for MZOs.
The development in question is envisioned by Empire as a community of 40,000 residents living in 15,000 new units, alongside a potential for up to 8,000 new commercial retail and service jobs to be created as well, on 4,200 acres of land near industrial facilities Stelco and Imperial Oil.
The new MZO framework features notable changes, including the ability for multiple parties to submit an MZO – leaving Empire free to submit an MZO application separate from the County. Requests must either satisfy a provincial priority with support from a minister or have the support of a municipality through a council resolution.
Council was presented with three potential options to proceed:
- Do nothing – Council would not deal with the matter any further. The file for the initial MZO request would remain closed and no new submission would be forwarded for review by Haldimand;
- Pass a resolution of support and direct staff to complete all of the work relating to the submission expectations laid out in the framework;
- Pass a resolution of support and require Empire to complete the work and make the submission themselves under the new framework.
The staff report touts option three as making “the most sense logistically and financially,” ensuring that the developer shoulders the cost of preparing the MZO instead of the taxpayer.
As it did when discussed during the initial conception, the elections that followed, and the series of public consultations last year, the issue drew a crowd of concerned residents who oppose the development for a variety of reasons, including roads and infrastructure concerns and lack of emergency healthcare staff to properly service the area.
Also speaking at the meeting was Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation representative Mark LaForme, who noted that the First Nation community could neither stand for nor against the proposed development, as they have not been part of any meaningful consultations to date on the proposal, despite being the sole treaty holder on the lands.
Councillors Rob Shirton and Dan Lawrence countered the criticisms of the crowd, speaking to how a community in Nanticoke could have positive long-term benefits for residents, like infrastructure improvements.
“I’m for option three. That will not only help us get it, but it puts everything on the proponent, not a dime on the taxpayer,” said Lawrence.
Shirton iterated that the proposed community of 40,000 would take more than 40 years to fully develop: “There’s so many positives to this, there’s no way to vote except option three,” he said.
Councillor Marie Trainer disagreed, stating, “Let’s put the residents where they should be, in Caledonia, and let industry go where industry should go…. The whole idea of an MZO is to break the promises given to the industry that located in Nanticoke in 1974. I will never support the County breaking its word for convenience of profit.”
Mayor Bentley stayed true to her messaging from her mayoral campaign, rallying against the proposed development as well: “I know the councillors won’t change their mind…. I’m trying to do the best I can for Haldimand County and advocate for your voice. It’s unfortunate it may fall on deaf ears today.”
Council voted 4-3 in favour of option three, with councillors Stewart Patterson, Dan Lawrence, Rob Shirton, and Patrick O’Neill in favour, and councillors John Metcalfe, Marie Trainer, and Mayor Bentley opposing it.
Stay tuned to next week’s Press for a full, in-depth breakdown of the meeting and the discussion.
