By: Christian Collington, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TheIFP.ca
For nearly three decades, Simone Gourlay, vice-president of the Stewarttown Community Association has called Stewarttown home.
Like many in the small enclave of roughly 200 households, she cherishes the “rural atmosphere” — the quiet streets without sidewalks, the frequent wildlife sightings and the proximity to the Black Creek.
But that way of life is now at the centre of a legal battle at the Ontario Land Tribunal.
The legal confrontation comes after mediation between the town of Halton Hills, the community association and developer Di Blasio Homes recently collapsed. Di Blasio would not budge on density demands for a development proposal in the community.
Di Blasio Homes had challenged the secondary plan through an appeal in January and submitted their own proposal for a development of more than 200 homes, which featured 30-foot lots and townhouses, styles the association said are completely incompatible with the existing single-detached homes on large estate lots.
The case is now heading for a full OLT hearing, though no date has been set.
The association is effectively “circling the wagons” with the town to defend the hamlet’s character against Di Blasio Homes’ proposal that they say would “make a mockery” of local planning.
The original official plan designated the expansion lands for a density of five units per hectare. But when the town initiated the Stewarttown secondary plan in 2021, it proposed to increase that number to eight units.
According to the association, the area adjacent to the proposed development currently has a density of about 3.5 units.
The SCA was officially incorporated in March 2024 after residents felt their concerns were being “abruptly cutoff” during virtual town meetings in 2023 and were advised by town staff a formal association would give the community a stronger voice in the process.
In June 2024, the SCA made a formal presentation to town council to keep the density to five units.
Sam Mercurio, SCA president and 10-year resident, said council “decided to go ahead and change it to eight.”
Central to the community’s fear is the proposed transportation plan.
The developer’s plan to add upwards of 200 homes would be served by a single access point via Stewarttown Road and Harrison Place.
Currently the subdivision in front of the expansion lands contains 35 houses.
Gourlay, the SCA’s vice-president, said the addition “is going to quadruple traffic at the very least.” She emphasized the area has “no sidewalks, it’s just a very quiet neighbourhood.”
The SCA estimates this could result in 800 additional cars per day navigating narrow residential streets, a situation they believe would be compounded by upcoming construction and road closures on Trafalgar Road and at the south end of Stewarttown Road.
While they have been granted party status at the OLT, Mercurio mentioned the limitations of that role under current provincial law.
Bill 185, the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, introduced changes to the OLT’s rules and practices through the removal of third-party appeal rights, restricted party status and the removal of upper-tier planning responsibilities.
“The government changed the rules so that party status doesn’t really give you any leverage in trying to stop development,” Mercurio said.
He said despite the limitations, the SCA will “take part in the process. We can call witnesses, we can present a presentation, we can present reports if we want,” Mercurio said.
Both Gourlay and Mercurio stress they are not antidevelopment. They simply want growth that respects the history of the hamlet.
“We’re very concerned that in this new atmosphere, developers are running roughshod over towns,” Mercurio said and pointed to a similar legal battle in Glen Williams.
He added, “if the developer is successful, it puts into question the value of any municipal or regional development plans.”
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