The Municipality of Port Hope announced Tuesday that it received notice of a zoning order from the Ontario government on a proposed local long-term care facility.
On Friday, the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark issued a Minister's Zoning Order (MZO) for the properties at 20 Hope St. South and 65 Ward St. A seven storey, 192-bed facility is proposed for Port Hope. Current zoning allows for up to five storeys only.
The MZO was issued in response to a request from Paul Calandra, the Minister of Long-Term Care.
The MZO overrides the current zoning restrictions and permits the land to be used to erect a long-term care facility on the site with an increase to the allowable height over what is currently permitted. An MZO is a tool, permitted under the Planning Act, which allows the minister to change the use of land, buildings or structures anywhere in Ontario. The municipality cannot appeal an MZO.
In response, Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky told Northumberland 897 that an MZO takes away council's decision making power.
Hankivsky estimates about 30 new beds will be created once the proposed facility replaces Hope Street Terrace and Regency Manor. While that's not a large number of net new beds, the mayor said the province has made its mandate clear to add more long-term care beds.
This topic has a long history in the community, the mayor said, and is one that has been very divisive and contentious and has come to a head early in this new council's tenure.
"This was not being advanced at the request of the municipality; it's being advanced at the request of both the province through the MZO and the developer," Hankivsky stressed.
As previously reported, a Heritage Permit Application for Demolition for the structures on the property has been received. This application will be managed through the regular public process, which includes consultation with the Heritage Port Hope Advisory Committee who will consider the request at their meeting on Monday.
After the Advisory Committee considers the request, a public Special Council Meeting will be held shortly after for council to consider the Heritage Permit Application for Demolition. An accompanying staff report will be published closer to that meeting date. The meeting date will be publicized as usual, on the municipal website and on social media.
If the municipality refuses the permit application, the applicant has the option to appeal that decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
There will not be an item related to 65 Ward St. included on the regular Council or Committee of the Whole agenda for the meetings this coming Tuesday, the municipality noted.
Jake Roseman, spokesman for the Minister of Long-Term Care Paul Calandra, gave a statement to Northumberland 897 confirming the MZO “to support the creation of a new 192-bed, 7-storey state of the art long-term care facility.”
“As you may know, the Minister of Long-Term Care recently attended a session with the Port Hope City Council to discuss the municipality's urgent need for long-term care in the region. The Minister has made it clear that he will use any tools necessary to ensure this vital project comes to fruition," the statement adds.
Roseman said former governments have failed to make necessary investments to support long-term care for decades. The current government will not accept the status quo, he added, noting they are making historic investments to fix long-term care and ensure seniors receive the care they deserve.
"Without this project, seniors in Port Hope face the potential of having to move away from their community, families and friends. We believe that seniors should be able to enjoy their golden years in the communities they helped build," Roseman said.
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