Sarnia City Council is being asked to formally object to a request by Cargill for a Ministerial Zoning Order that would bypass local planning authority.
Mayor Mike Bradley has put forward a motion for city council to formally object to Cargill’s application for a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) regarding its Sarnia Grain Terminal. The agricultural giant is seeking provincial intervention to establish a buffer zone around its facility at 101 Exmouth Street.
Cargill has applied to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for an order that would prohibit sensitive land uses, such as housing, within 300 metres of their property limit. A secondary buffer extending from 301 to 650 metres would require technical studies and mitigation measures for any new development.
In a letter to the mayor, Cargill stated the buffer is necessary to protect its operations from encroachment by new developments that could be affected by noise, dust, and odour. The company argues the terminal is a critical piece of Ontario’s agricultural supply chain, handling 35 per cent of the province's export grain.
Mayor Bradley’s motion argues that the MZO request undermines the city’s authority to make local land use decisions through established planning processes. An MZO allows the provincial minister to zone land directly, bypassing the standard municipal approval and public consultation steps.
If passed, the motion would direct staff to send a letter of objection to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, as well as local MPP Bob Bailey and the Village of Point Edward.
