Crackdown considered on stalled development sites
Whitby Council has directed Town staff to review municipal by-laws and report back with options for enhanced maintenance standards at dormant development sites. According to a Town of Whitby news release, the move responds to concerns that projects delayed by shifting economic conditions can leave sites sitting untouched for long stretches.
The motion notes such sites can create problems for neighbouring properties, including weeds and overgrowth, debris, graffiti, standing water, dust and erosion. Staff were also asked to consider inspection and enforcement mechanisms — specifically, whether dormant sites should be checked proactively rather than only after complaints come in.
Data centre review deferred to next council
At a Committee of the Whole meeting on Sept. 21, Council declined to support a motion calling for a comprehensive data centre planning review. The matter was instead referred to the next term of Council, with direction that incoming councillors receive an education session on the potential impact of data centres in Whitby.
Staff told councillors that Whitby's limited electrical infrastructure makes it highly unlikely any data centre application would come forward before 2032. They also estimated the requested study would cost roughly $100,000, and noted Ontario's policy and regulatory framework around data centres is evolving quickly enough that a short-term study could quickly become outdated.
Extra public meeting sought on Whitby GO Station development
Council voted to formally request that Infrastructure Ontario hold an additional public meeting on the proposed Transit-Oriented Community at the Whitby GO Station, in fall 2026 or early 2027. The mayor will send a letter outlining the request to Infrastructure Ontario, the Minister of Infrastructure, local MPPs and Metrolinx.
The provincial proposal calls for six towers containing roughly 2,355 apartments, along with a new park, retail and commercial space, public spaces and direct connections to the Whitby GO Station and Durham Region Transit. It is one of eight Transit-Oriented Communities the province is proposing along GO Transit and LRT networks.
Infrastructure Ontario held two public information sessions in July and gathered feedback through an online survey that closed Aug. 21.
Town to study attracting defence-sector investment
Council also asked the Town's Economic Development staff for an interim report on how Whitby can proactively position itself to attract defence contractors, defence-related manufacturers, advanced manufacturers and companies in the Canadian defence and security supply chain.
The motion calls for the report to identify specific actions to boost Whitby's competitiveness, including possible changes to municipal economic-development programs, site-readiness initiatives, investment marketing, workforce development, infrastructure planning and intergovernmental advocacy.
Other notes
Residents can check whether they are on the Voters' List, learn about candidates and find voting locations at whitby.ca/VOTE. The Fieldgate Sports Complex can also be explored from home through a virtual self-guided tour.
Full meeting minutes and more detail are available at whitby.ca/CouncilCalendar.
