Whitby’s September Council highlights outline four major directions: reviewing upkeep standards for inactive development sites, briefing the incoming council on data centres, seeking another public meeting on the proposed Whitby GO Transit-Oriented Community, and studying how the Town can attract defence-related investment.
Council directed Town staff to review existing by-laws and report on options for stronger maintenance standards at dormant development sites. The motion cites concerns that prolonged delays to approved projects can affect neighbours through overgrowth, debris, graffiti, standing water, dust and erosion. Staff are also to consider inspection and enforcement, including whether sites should be inspected proactively instead of only after complaints.
At a Committee of the Whole meeting on September 21, Council did not support a motion for a comprehensive planning review of data centres. The matter was referred to the next term of Council, and the incoming council is to receive an education and training session on potential local impacts. Town staff said Whitby’s lack of electrical infrastructure makes applications before 2032 highly unlikely; they estimated the requested study would cost about $100,000 and could become outdated as the provincial policy framework changes.
Council voted to ask Infrastructure Ontario to hold an additional public meeting on the proposed Transit-Oriented Community at Whitby GO in fall 2026 or early 2027. The proposal includes six towers with approximately 2,355 apartments, plus a park, retail and commercial space, public areas and direct connections to the GO station and Durham Region Transit. The mayor is to send the request to Infrastructure Ontario, the infrastructure minister, local MPPs and Metrolinx. Two information sessions were held in July, and the online survey closed Aug. 21.
Council also directed Economic Development staff to prepare an interim report on how Whitby could position itself to attract defence contractors, defence-related and advanced manufacturers, and companies in the Canadian defence and security supply chain. The Town’s motion calls for specific actions, potentially including changes to economic-development programs, site readiness, investment marketing, workforce development, infrastructure planning and intergovernmental advocacy.
The Town says its Council highlights are an overview of decisions and agenda items; meeting minutes and additional details are available through whitby.ca/CouncilCalendar. The source release was published September 29, 2026.
Source: Town of Whitby — https://www.whitby.ca/news/posts/whitby-council-highlights-september-2026
