Whitchurch-Stouffville council has adopted a new set of land use rules that will guide where businesses and industries can set up shop in the community for years to come. On June 17, 2026, council passed By-law 2026-055-OP, bringing in Official Plan Amendment No. 4, a planning update that creates two distinct types of employment areas across the town.
The update brings the town’s policies in line with the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024, which changed how the province defines employment zones. The new rules split employment land into two categories: Industrial Employment Areas, which are protected for traditional industrial uses like manufacturing and warehousing, and Business Park Areas, which allow a broader mix of job-creating businesses.
Under the plan, the communities of Gormley and Vandorf are reinforced as the town’s main Industrial Employment Areas because of their easy access to Highway 404 and goods movement routes. Employment lands in Stouffville itself are mostly designated as Business Park Areas, meant to support a wider variety of workplaces and local job opportunities.
This decision completes work that was left unfinished when the province approved the town’s new Official Plan in September 2025. At that time, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing held back approval of employment area policies until the town could update them to match the provincial rules. The deadline to appeal the council decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal is July 12, 2026, but recent law changes mean that only those who spoke or wrote to council before the vote can appeal — neighbours and other outside groups can no longer challenge the amendment.
The town’s Official Plan projects employment will grow to 28,300 jobs by 2051, with density targets of 35 jobs per hectare in Stouffville and 30 jobs per hectare in Gormley and Vandorf. Council unanimously passed the by-law, which was signed by Mayor Iain Lovatt. More details can be found on the town’s website.
