Stayner settlement boundary expansion approved—planning study to add roughly 1 km around town
April 27, 2026 · Regular Council · Planning · Major
Council directed staff to begin a two-year planning process to expand Stayner's urban settlement boundary by roughly one kilometre in all directions. The study will determine land needs, servicing requirements, and phasing to unlock developer infrastructure funding. The expansion area includes agricultural land north to County Road 7, south to the Hoffman Sideroad, and west to Airport Road.
Council unanimously approved a resolution launching a comprehensive planning study to expand Stayner's settlement boundary. The study area extends roughly one kilometre beyond the current urban edge—north to County Road 7, south to the Hoffman Sideroad (24th Sideroad), and west to County Road 42 (Airport Road). The existing boundary was set in 1993.
The work will be led by GSP Group and R.J. Burnside and Associates at an estimated cost covered by developer contributions. Steve Weaver of GSP told council the study will address land use, transportation, water, wastewater, stormwater, natural heritage, and agricultural impacts. It will culminate in a secondary plan—a detailed, area-specific amendment to the township's official plan.
CAO John Ferguson said the expansion is tied to three signed development agreements. Developers agreed to fund major infrastructure upgrades (water, sewer) but will not pay until the settlement boundary is expanded. "It's an economic issue for the township to move towards expanding the settlement boundaries as soon as possible," Ferguson said.
The mayor emphasized the long timeline: the Cubitt farm, now home to a Foodland and McDonald's, took 33 years from boundary inclusion to development. "This is a decision that will last for 30 to 60 to maybe 90 years," he said. He walked council through the map on-screen, identifying the northern and southern expansion zones.
The study will include at least two public information centres per phase. Agricultural impact assessments will calculate setbacks from livestock operations and prioritize lower-quality farmland where possible. The process is expected to take 24 months, though some components may be implemented sooner.
Deputy Mayor Van Staalduinen stepped aside briefly due to a technical conflict—his property straddles the boundary—but returned and voted in favour. No public delegations spoke. The resolution passed unanimously.
This is growth planning on a generational scale. The boundary won't be built out in this council's lifetime, but the decisions made now will determine where Stayner grows for decades.
It's an economic issue for the township to move towards expanding the settlement boundaries as soon as possible.
— CAO (Ferguson)
This is a decision that will last for 30 to 60 to maybe 90 years, maybe longer, who knows.
— Mayor
From Clearview Council Meeting 2026-04-27 | Part 2. ← All commentary