Maple Lake Estates was a previously approved 1073-unit recreational residential retirement community that was proposed to be constructed on approximately 360 hectares (890 ac) of land in northwest Georgina.
There were planning approvals for Maple Lake Estates dating back over three decades. On Oct. 19, 1984, Town Council approved the Maple Leaf Estates development proposal (now called Maple Lake Estates or MLE) by adopting Official Plan Amendment No. 10 to the Georgina Official Plan. Council’s decision to adopt OPA 10 was subsequently appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).
In 1987, the OMB issued its decision approving the Maple Lake Estates proposal with certain modifications and this approval was reaffirmed by the Provincial Cabinet in January 1988, through an Order-in-Council. As a result of the OMB decision, the Maple Lake Estates lands were designated “Urban Residential Area” in the Town's Official Plan, accompanied by site-specific development and phasing policies.
As a result of the Town’s Official Plan review concluding in 2016, the previously existing Official Plan policies for the MLE site were carried forward and approved by the Region in accordance with Region’s Official Plan and Provincial Policy. This Official Plan review process resulted in an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) in which the existing land use designation and development/servicing policies upon the MLE site were challenged.
Ontario Land Tribunal Decision
The OLT, in its decision released on Dec. 19, 2019, ordered that a significant portion of the MLE site be designated as Environmental Protection Area in the Town’s Official Plan.
On June 16, 2021, a landmark decision was announced by the Province of Ontario to add the Maple Lake Estates lands to the stewardship of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA). The decision means these significant wetlands will be protected from development.
Mayor Margaret Quirk's Statement
Read Mayor Margaret Quirk’s statement for more information.
Minister's Zoning Order
On April 1, 2022, The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) for the Maple Lake Estates lands. The MZO overrides any area municipal zoning bylaw and establishes the permitted uses for the property. The uses permitted by the MZO are fish and wildlife management, conservation and flood or erosion control projects, infrastructure, passive recreational uses and buildings and structures associated with these uses.
Minister's Zoning Order
Zoning Map
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority Possession
On April 4, 2022, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority announced that it had officially taken possession of the Maple Lake Estates site. See the press release from the LSRCA.