The Northeast Pickering Secondary Plan, a major development proposal that could bring 72,000 new residents to the area, will be decided by Pickering council later this month.
During a planning and development committee meeting on March 2, councillors voted to delay the decision and refer the matter to a full council meeting scheduled for March 23. The delay will allow city staff additional time to address questions, concerns, and planning adjustments raised during a lengthy discussion that lasted more than four hours.
If approved, the Northeast Pickering Secondary Plan would create a large new community in the northern part of the city. The proposed development area is generally bounded by Eighth Concession Road to the north, Lake Ridge Road to the east, Highway 7 to the south, and Westney Road to the west.
City officials say the plan would allow a mix of residential housing, commercial areas, employment lands, schools, and community facilities, while also including measures to protect environmentally sensitive areas.
At full build-out, the development is expected to support about 72,000 residents and approximately 9,700 jobs, effectively creating a “city within a city,” according to planning consultants.
The project would also require major infrastructure, including eight neighbourhoods and roughly 23 new schools to serve the growing population.
The land targeted for development is currently considered farmland and sits outside Ontario’s Greenbelt. However, the area has already been identified by the province as part of Durham Region’s 2051 urban expansion areas, following earlier decisions by Durham Regional Council to support long-term growth planning.
Despite this support, the proposal has generated significant debate among residents, environmental advocates, and community groups.
Several speakers addressed the planning committee meeting, raising concerns about environmental impacts, infrastructure capacity, and whether such large-scale development is necessary at this time.
Nicholas Zamora, president of the Greenwood Community Association, said many residents feel the plan is moving forward without sufficient analysis.
“There is no demonstrated need or urgency to approve an unfinished northeast Pickering plan,” Zamora told councillors.
He noted that the proposed development could affect existing communities nearby and questioned whether studies on hydrology, environmental impacts, and financial implications have been completed.
Environmental advocates also raised concerns about the Carruthers Creek watershed, whose headwaters are located in the proposed development area. Critics worry that changes to the landscape could impact water flow and ecosystems downstream.
Pickering planner Zahrah Khan told councillors that several studies are still underway, including environmental and financial impact reports.
She added that large-scale infrastructure planning would be required before development could begin and that actual construction in the area is likely at least a decade away.
Other concerns raised during the meeting involved consultation with Indigenous communities, particularly the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.
Chief Kelly LaRocca recently wrote to the Region of Durham expressing concerns about environmental impacts and stating that no formal relationship agreement exists between the First Nation and the City of Pickering regarding the project.
City officials say discussions and reviews are ongoing as part of the planning process.
Pickering’s director of city development, Kyle Bentley, noted that other growth areas in the city, including Seaton, are still under development, but emphasized that new communities take many years to plan and complete.
The province expects Durham Region’s population to reach approximately 1.3 million people and 460,000 jobs by 2051, meaning significant housing and infrastructure expansion will be needed across the region.
Pickering council will make the final decision on whether to move forward with the Northeast Pickering Secondary Plan during its March 23 council meeting.
