Project rendering published by the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville and Mentana Group. For illustrative purposes.
Project rendering published by the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville and Mentana Group. For illustrative purposes.
The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville is moving forward with a large privately operated multi-sport complex on Town-owned land at 5592 Aurora Road, beside Ballantrae Public School and established homes.
A 45-metre/148-foot-high structure.
Approximately 453 parking spaces.
A large air-supported sports dome, clubhouse and indoor recreational facilities.
The September 2026 Technical Mitigation Plan specifies a maximum height of 45 metres. An earlier announcement by the project's architect, ZAS Architects, identified the height as 47 metres (154 feet). Clarification is being sought regarding the discrepancy and the maximum height shown on the current building-permit drawings.
Ballantrae has its own Secondary Plan (Ballantrae-Musselman Lake and Environs Secondary Plan) Its stated goal is to create a community that maintains its rural character and village scale of development, while recognizing and protecting natural systems and processes.
Residents are asking the Town to clearly demonstrate how a 45-metre/148-foot-high facility with approximately 453 parking spaces is consistent with that goal before the project proceeds to full construction and operation.
The sports complex will be immediately beside Ballantrae Public School.
York Region has advised that additional transportation work is still required, including a Transportation Mobility Plan considering school traffic, intersections, queues, future growth and potential road improvements.
Why it matters:
This affects more than congestion. It involves children walking and cycling, school buses, parent drop-off and pick-up, turning movements, pedestrian safety and traffic spilling onto nearby residential roads.
Because the sports complex is immediately beside Ballantrae Public School, residents are also concerned about noise from dome inflation equipment, HVAC systems, emergency generators, increased traffic and other mechanical equipment.
Why it matters:
Background noise can interfere with speech, concentration and learning. The World Health Organization recommends classroom background noise below 35 dBA to support good teaching and learning conditions.
Residents want the Town to demonstrate, through an appropriate acoustic assessment, that noise from the facility will not create unacceptable impacts on the school’s classrooms, playground or outdoor learning environment.
Questions remain regarding:
• municipal water demand and available capacity
• possible use of on-site wells
• wastewater servicing
• groundwater and water balance
York Region advised that the Functional Servicing Report had not yet been submitted when it responded to residents.
Why it matters:
Before a facility of this size is approved, residents should know that sufficient water and wastewater capacity actually exists and that groundwater will be protected.
A large dome roof, clubhouse, roads and approximately 453 parking spaces would create substantial additional hard surfaces.
Some nearby residents already experience basement flooding and drainage problems, and local roadside ditches have been observed holding substantial amounts of water.
Why it matters:
Rain and snowmelt run off roofs and pavement much faster than natural ground. If drainage systems, groundwater conditions or downstream capacity are not properly accounted for, additional development could potentially worsen existing flooding problems.
Residents want the Town to demonstrate that the project will not increase flood risk to surrounding properties.
The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority has confirmed that the current proposal:
• was not circulated to LSRCA for review, and
• LSRCA has provided no comments or conditions on the project.
LSRCA has advised that where it is not involved, the Town, as approval authority, is responsible for ensuring applicable legislative obligations are met.
Why it matters:
Residents want to know who is reviewing groundwater, water balance and other environmental matters where LSRCA is not performing that review.
The Town has confirmed that a partial foundation permit was issued in April 2026.
The full building permit remains under review.
Why it matters:
Residents want assurance that important outstanding technical questions are resolved before construction advances to the point where meaningful reconsideration becomes difficult.
The Town has confirmed that no visual-impact assessment was undertaken.
Why it matters:
At approximately 148 feet high, the dome would be dramatically different in scale from the existing built environment in Ballantrae.
Residents believe the Town should demonstrate how a structure of this magnitude is compatible with the community’s rural and village character.
The land belongs to the Town, but the facility will be privately operated.
The Town has advised that designated local sports organizations will receive below-market rates and that some Town programming time will be provided.
Why it matters:
Residents want to understand how much of the facility will actually serve Stouffville residents, how much will be commercial or regional use, and whether the public benefit justifies the scale and impacts of the proposal.
Stouffville has recently acquired Simeon Park, a 95-acre recreational property with existing recreational amenities and substantial open space.
Simeon Park does not replace the need for indoor recreation.
However, Stouffville’s recreational assets have changed significantly since the Ballantrae project was originally conceived.
Residents believe this is an appropriate time to reassess the Town’s long-term recreational needs, facility scale and location.
We are not opposed to recreation for Stouffville.
We are asking the Town to:
Finish the required traffic, servicing, stormwater, environmental, lighting, noise and safety assessments before final approval.
Explain clearly how the proposal is compatible with Ballantrae’s rural character, village scale, servicing capacity and surrounding community.
Demonstrate that traffic, drainage, groundwater, lighting, mechanical noise and other impacts will not create unacceptable effects on Ballantrae Public School or surrounding residents.
Give residents an opportunity to review the completed information and ask questions before full construction proceeds.
Determine whether a 45 to 47-metre / 148 to 154-foot facility with approximately 453 parking spaces is truly necessary at this location.
Provide recreation at a scale that meets community needs while minimizing negative impacts on Ballantrae.
Read the detailed background
Learn what the Town, York Region and LSRCA have told residents, what remains outstanding, and what we are asking the Town to demonstrate.
Support the petition
Add your voice to the request for responsible recreation and responsible development in Ballantrae.
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Resident-led. Non-partisan. Focused on responsible recreation and responsible development.