• Council will consider a revised mosque proposal for 27 Winona Dr. during its May 6 meeting.
  • Town Staff are recommending approval of zoning changes needed to permit the place of worship.
  • Initial concerns raised by residents included parking overflow, traffic, and neighbourhood compatibility.
  • The updated proposal reduced the building’s size and introduced more subtle architectural features.
  • On-site parking has increased from 53 to 76 spaces, meeting the Town’s parking requirements.
  • A peer-reviewed study concluded the surrounding road network can accommodate the development.
  • The proposed three-storey structure would include prayer halls, office space, a seniors lounge, and integrated parking.

 

A revised proposal for a new mosque at 27 Winona Dr. is coming to Council Chambers on May 6 following extensive community debate over parking, traffic, and neighbourhood compatibility. Town Staff are recommending approval of zoning amendments needed to permit the development during a 1 p.m. meeting next Wednesday.

The planning application was submitted on behalf of Darul Khair Centre, Stouffville, and Council’s approval would allow for the construction of a three-storey building on the 0.59-acre property. Plans include 1,922 square metres of floor area, integrated parking within the structure, two prayer halls, a seniors lounge, and office space.

The mosque would rise approximately 20 metres to the top of its minaret, with a maximum roofline height of 14.5 metres. While the site’s current Commercial Mixed Use – Western Approach zoning does not permit places of worship, Stouffville’s recently adopted 2025 Official Plan does permit the use on the property.

The amendment, if approved, would align the site’s zoning with the Town’s long-term planning vision for the Main Street corridor, which encourages a broader mix of residential, commercial, cultural, and community-serving uses.

Public opposition to the project first emerged on social media before carrying into a June 18, 2025, Public Planning Meeting. Residents raised concerns about traffic, noise, parking spillover into surrounding neighbourhoods and nearby business plazas, and the suitability of the location near residential areas.

According to an accompanying Staff report, some opponents stressed they were “not opposed to constructing a mosque, in principle, but that they are opposed to the specific location outlined.” Questions were also raised about whether another mosque was necessary given a separate project already under construction on Sandiford Drive.

Others spoke in support of the application, including congregants and representatives from the Darul Khair Centre. Representatives said the organization’s current Ringwood Drive facility has become too small to adequately support religious services and community programming for its roughly 250 to 300 members.

Supporters described the proposed mosque as more than a place of worship, characterizing it as a community hub offering opportunities for prayer, education, interfaith dialogue, and community cooperation.

Parking emerged as one of the most significant issues during public consultation, with residents arguing the original proposal lacked sufficient capacity and could worsen congestion during Friday prayers and larger religious gatherings.

In response, the applicant reduced the overall size of the project from roughly 2,300 square metres to 1,922 square metres, removing a previously proposed gymnasium and community hall. Staff noted those facilities generated additional parking requirements under the Town’s zoning by-law.

The revised proposal now includes 76 parking spaces, up from 53, integrated directly into the building footprint. The design includes 51 spaces on the ground floor and 22 on the second level. Staff say the updated plan complies with municipal parking requirements and no additional parking relief is needed.

“The primary reduction in floor area results from the removal of the previously proposed gymnasium and community hall,” the report explains. “Combined with other minor reconfigurations to the site plan and floor plans, the revised proposal now complies with the Town’s parking requirements.”

Traffic impacts were also reviewed through a Traffic Impact Study prepared by N Engineering Inc. and peer-reviewed for the Town by RJ Burnside and Associates. According to Staff, the review concluded the surrounding road network and nearby intersections can accommodate traffic generated by the development without significant negative impacts.

Concerns about architectural compatibility also prompted revisions to the building’s appearance, including changes to the colour palette and more subdued architectural elements. However, Staff note architectural style itself is not regulated through the zoning by-law amendment coming to Council.

Beyond adding “place of worship” as a permitted use on the property, the application also seeks site-specific zoning relief related to landscaping and setbacks.

The proposal requests a reduction to the minimum landscaped area along the Winona Drive frontage from 4.5 metres to three metres, which Staff say is appropriate because all parking is contained within the building rather than in front surface lots. It also seeks a reduced yard requirement where the site minimally abuts a residential zone on Fairview Avenue, with Staff noting the building has been designed to lessen visual and privacy impacts at its northeast corner.

In recommending approval, Staff state the proposal conforms with provincial and municipal planning policies and represents good planning. They further argue the development supports Stouffville’s vision of a complete community by providing an inclusive community space and public service facility within the Main Street area. The application received no objections from internal departments or external commenting agencies.

“The development provides an important public service facility, supports cultural diversity, offers inclusive gathering space, and aligns with the area’s vision for a vibrant mixed-use district,” the report states. “The proposed built form provides an appropriate transition to surrounding neighbourhoods and is consistent with both current and former policy direction for locating institutional and cultural uses in community areas.”

If Council approves the application next week, the project would still require future site plan approval. Town Staff would continue working with the applicant on landscaping, lighting, architectural details, and other technical matters before construction could proceed.

Cover image taken from updated n Architecture Inc. drawings