The Ontario government has issued a ministerial zoning order at the request of Blue Door, which aims to speed up construction of new transitional and emergency housing on Gorham Street in Newmarket.
The zoning order approved by Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra will permit a stacked townhouse with up to 14 units on property where Blue Door operates the existing Kevin’s Place shelter for male youth at 835 Gorham St.
Blue Door said the approval is a significant milestone.
“We are incredibly grateful for the MZO approval, which allows us to move forward
swiftly with this vital project," Blue Door CEO Michael Braithwaite said. "Our goal is to provide high-quality, affordable housing to those who need it most, and this development is a big step towards that mission."
The Town of Newmarket supported Blue Door's MZO request in January 2023.
“There is a significant need for housing in Newmarket. There is also an important need for housing for families that are on the lower end of the spectrum,” Newmarket Councillor Victor Woodhouse said at the time. “It would be wrong for myself, as a councillor, to hold up the process when there is an opportunity for funding to get this done."
The MZO specifies that the units shall be transitional and emergency housing only, laying out other zoning requirements such as setbacks. The project aims to provide up to 30 days of emergency housing and transitional affordable housing for up to one year. The location will expand from 12 units to 14 with the redevelopment.
Newmarket also previously supported an MZO for Inn From the Cold to speed up the process for a new facility for the homeless shelter.
Ontario has faced controversy in the past for issuing MZOs over municipal councils' decisions in its bid to push development forward. The Ford government issued more than 100 since 2018, but moved in December to revoke eight of those.
Braithwaite said Blue Door hoped the timeline for the MZO would be sooner after Newmarket approved it last year, but it got held up as the province reviewed the use of MZOs. But he added they are pleased with the result now.
“This zoning order is well-earned validation of Blue Door’s tireless work to unlock the full potential of Kevin’s Place," EllisDon Community Builders senior director of client solutions Michael Laurignano said. "The project typifies Blue Door’s ambition and its bold efforts to support vulnerable people in the community."
Although zoning is now in place for the Blue Door facility, it would still have to go through a site planning process with the Town of Newmarket.
