The Town of Innisfil has realized an important step in the development of a new transit hub.

The project received Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) on August 9 to designate lands on the town’s 6th Line for the planned Orbit transit hub.

The MZO will help expedite the building of the town’s new GO Station, as well as the planning process for the surrounding Orbit community that will be centered around the new rail station.

“Our government is proud to work with our municipal partners to get one step closer to building a new Innisfil GO Station that will provide convenient transit to this growing community – at a lower cost to taxpayers,” said Stan Cho, Associate Minister of Transportation. “Through the Transit-Oriented Communities Program, we are building critical, reliable transit that is connected to vibrant, live-work-play communities that benefit individuals, families and businesses.” 

The town says the announcement will get shovels in the ground faster, secure private investment, and support local priorities and economic recovery as the province emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Innisfil is taking a forward-thinking approach to growth through the Orbit,” said Tim Cane, Orbit Director at the Town of Innisfil. “Today’s announcement is an exciting step forward to building a more resilient, connected and sustainable community.”

The Town of Innisfil hired Toronto-based architects Partisans in 2019 to create the vision for the Orbit community. The project’s lead developer, Cortel Group, has created a vision for the community that will see the new transit hub and Orbit community built around the area of 6th Line and Metrolinx Rail line. The transit hub and surrounding residential, employment and community uses will incorporate the design principles of sustainability, placemaking and culture, technology, and economics.

Leading up to the release of the draft MZO, a number of steps and stakeholder meetings took place, including a resident survey in 2019, station design team meetings, collaboration with the Province, County of Simcoe and Metrolinx, engagement with the resident focus group, and a Council Workshop in May 2020.

Innisfil council endorsed the draft MZO, which was submitted to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for consideration in November 2020.

The MZO includes guidelines for how the land immediately surrounding the transit station (i.e., land within 425 metres of the proposed GO station) can be used, including for spaces like retail, business, residential, affordable housing, recreation and more, as well as protection of key environmental features, including woodlands and wetlands. The lands outside of this area will be addressed in the future through a Secondary Plan, which will be subject to community input later in the year.

Featured image: Rendering of the Orbit transit hub. (Town of Innisfil)