• In a letter to Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation (MTO) last December, Stouffville requested municipal jurisdiction over Highway 48 from the Town’s southern border to Bethesda Road.
  • Stouffville plans on utilizing the area heavily to meet provincially mandated growth targets, however MTO has refused access points onto Highway 48 for many of these large developments.
  • “These applications have limited…potential due to constrained access…and setbacks from Highway 48,” Mayor Lovatt noted in the letter. “A key point of transferring [jurisdiction is] the opportunity to simplify the development process.”
  • The Town’s request was declined in a letter from MTO on March 16 as they plan to widen the road and expand capacity.
  • Staff noted “inevitable conflict” between the planned “vibrant, mixed-use community” and a fast moving highway dividing the neighbourhood.
  • “If [the Province] is going to dig in on not allowing access…we’re going to have to go back to the drawing board in how we plan out this section of our community,” Mayor Lovatt said.
  • While Council expressed disappointment with MTO’s decision, they directed Staff to respond to MTO’s letter with their concerns and continue looking for viable solutions.