Puslinch fights back against Jim Estill's proposed MZO

PUSLINCH – Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Joseph Racinsky should prepare himself for an influx of phone calls and emails from residents of Puslinch opposed to a ministerial zoning order (MZO) requested by Jim Estill, owner of Danby Canada Inc.

At a meeting on June 3 at the Puslinch Community Centre, hosted by the grassroots community group Help Protect Puslinch, about 100 people gathered to learn more about Estill’s proposal and to figure out how to convince Racinsky, Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack that approving the MZO is not in their best interests.

“An MZO is a political choice,” and not a sound planning decision, said Mike Balkwill, vice president of campaigns and engagement for the Small Change Fund, who was invited to speak at the meeting and guide Help Protect Puslinch in its plan to fight the MZO.

“At the moment, (the proposal) is only good for Estill. Your job is to make it clear it’s going to be bad for [Ford, Flack and Racinsky]."

Estill purchased agricultural land in the township hoping to have it rezoned industrial and build a new headquarters for his company, currently based in Guelph, and for Upper Canada Forest Group, based in Mississauga.

He hoped to gain access to the property directly from the Hanlon Expressway. The original proposal included warehouses, prestige office buildings, a fitness centre and daycare centre, some commercial space, parking for some 600 employees and walking trails the community would be free to use.

He originally tried to use the Community Infrastructure and Housing Accelerator (CIHA) planning tool, which allows the Minister of Housing to directly approve proposals.

CIHA required municipal councils to approve its use, however, and Puslinch council preferred the standard planning process and did not grant approval. So Estill has started the traditional zoning bylaw amendment process.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transportation did not grant direct access from the Hanlon and council decided no heavy trucks are allowed on Concession 4 or Sideroad 20 – the only access roads to the property.

And the township and Wellington County have completed the Puslinch by Design employment lands study that rezones other parts of the township for industrial use, but not Estill’s property.

Estill has now amended his proposal to include another parcel of agricultural land to provide a road to his site. And he has requested that Flack approve the proposal through an MZO.

The orders are to be used to fast-track provincial priorities like housing, hospitals and schools. They are similar to CIHA, only municipal councils have no say and there is no appeal process.

To many at the meeting, Estill taking this step makes it feel like provincial approval is already a done deal.

But resident Justin Wilson, who chaired the meeting, said the Six Nations of the Grand River has now weighed in on the proposal and it has concerns with the loss of agricultural land, where wastewater will go, how a wetland on the property will be protected, and habitat connectivity.

They called the proposal “irresponsible,” Wilson said.

Susan and David Pady, who own the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada located one kilometre from the site, spoke about the harm that industry nearby would do to the donkeys and to their land, which they have nurtured and developed over 30 years.

“Our location is key to our success,” David Pady said. “There is a more appropriate location for Danby.”

Help Save Puslinch has hired David Donnelly, a land use lawyer who has been successful in fighting other MZOs, including a proposal by Chinese company Xinyi Canada Glass Limited to build in Guelph/Eramosa, and when that failed, in Stratford.

“You need an audience with the mayor, Doug Ford and the minister,” Donnelly said, noting Racinsky did not attend the meeting although he had been invited.

“(Racinsky) should be the ambassador … he should facilitate a meeting.

“If he was here, I would have asked (him) for a pledge to get a meeting with Ford and the minister. He should be held to account. He should pledge to oppose (the MZO). This is a pivotal role in Puslinch.”

Balkwill said that once Racinsky gets the message, it will be time to put pressure on Ford and Flack.

“This is not about rational planning; it’s about power. It has to cost them politically,” Balkwill said, alluding to Ford’s purchase of a jet plane and then quickly flip-flopping on the matter when it became a political hot potato.

Many people made financial donations to Help Protect Puslinch at the meeting as they estimate it could cost $50,000 to fight the MZO.

Many more took "No MZO in Puslinch" lawn signs.

Wilson said to check helpprotectpuslinch.ca as well as the group's Facebook and Instagram pages @helpprotectpuslinch for updates, rallies and other ways to help.

“There are real reasons for optimism,” he said.