Zoning By-law Review

The objective of the Zoning By-law Review and Update is to create a more reader-friendly, concise and forward-thinking zoning document by making key revisions to various provisions and standards that will assist in the interpretation and understanding of the document.

 This review is also intended to align the Zoning By-law with current planning policies and to improve its structure and format for ease of understanding and implementation.

• Recognize updated legislation and planning policy
• Eliminate duplication and redundancy
• Create a user friendly document
• Appropriately implement design documents
• Maintain existing standards and permissions (where possible)
• Avoid site-specific considerations

The Town is currently in the process of digitizing the Zoning By-law mapping to bring all maps into a geographic information system (GIS) format, ultimately allowing the Zoning By-law to be viewable interactively online. As part of this larger project, staff are first revising all structure envelope (SE) maps contained within the Zoning By-law.

The proposed Zoning By-law Amendment seeks to:

• Introduce housekeeping language into the By-law which will permit the Town to undertake minor amendments and other technical revisions that in no way affect existing zoning.
• Introduce enforcement provisions into the By-law for clarity purposes
• Alter the numbering of the structure envelope maps to be chronological (in both the text and maps)
• Amend the structure envelope maps, which may include, but is not limited to the following amendments:
  • Introduce structure envelopes which exist on title and other approved planning documentation
  • Recognize approved minor variances to expand structure envelopes in terms of location, dimensions and configuration
  • Update structure envelope and natural area limits, boundaries and dimensions reflect locations of lot lines and improve accuracy, utilizing today’s technology and ability to digitally dimension structure envelopes
• Update zones, zone map and text to reflect administrative changes to implement the structure envelope mapping updates

• Public Meeting - December 3, 2019: Notice of Application and Public Meeting
• Draft Zoning By-law Amendment and Schedule “A” (revised zone maps)

For all maps forming Schedule “B” to the By-law (structure envelope maps), please refer to the table below:

The Town is currently in the process of reviewing zoning topics, issues, standards and uses related to Agricultural and Rural land uses and areas. Although this review primarily applies to Agricultural and Rural zones (A1, A2, A3, A1-ORM, A2-ORM and A3-ORM), some of the topics may apply to other areas of the Town as well such as parking, driveway, commercial and tractor trailer parking, etc.

As a result of this review, Town staff has identified that updates are required to:

• Amend the Maximum Building Area permitted for non-residential uses in the agricultural and rural zones
• Amend/clarify the zoning provisions related to undersized agricultural lots, including permissions relating to accessory structures and buildings
• Create a definition and associated provisions for Country Inns and adjust other rental/lodging definitions to remove duplication and old terms, and clarify permissions for Bed and Breakfast Establishments
• Amend and create definitions and zoning provisions relating to the growing (indoor and outdoor cultivation) and production of cannabis in agricultural areas
• Note: This component has a related Official Plan Amendment under File No. POPA 19-06
• Create new definitions and provisions to address common zoning issues relating to driveways, open storage and parking, including the insertion of appendices to assist with measuring driveway width
• Amend and consolidate permitted uses and definitions in the agricultural and rural zones to remove duplication
• Complete general housekeeping tasks such as deletion of zones which are no longer in effect and correction of zone titles

POPA 19-06 and RZ 19-08: Public Notices and Documentation:

• Notice of Application and Public Meeting (pdf)
• Technical Report and Appendices, prepared by Meridian Planning Consultants (pdf)
• Draft Official Plan Amendment (pdf)
• Draft Zoning By-law Amendment and Appendices (pdf)

Contact us to request a document.

At the April 30th Council Meeting, the Staff Report recommendation was amended through a Notice of Motion by Council to add the following paragraphs:

That the growing, producing, processing, etc. of Cannabis on lands designated Prime Agricultural Area, General Agricultural and Rural lands be reviewed as part of the Agriculture Policy review of the Official Plan; and

That the growing of Cannabis on lands zoned Agricultural (A1 and A1-ORM), Rural (A2 and A2-ORM) and Small Agricultural holdings (A3 and A3-ORM) be considered as part of the current 2019 review of the Zoning By-law.

The by-law has been appealed to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal. A hearing has not yet been scheduled.

The Government of Ontario’s Emergency Order made under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act retroactive to March 16, 2020, will affect proceedings before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT), including suspending timelines, hearing events, and any period of time to initiate or take a step in a proceeding.  The suspension will be in effect until the declaration of emergency is lifted and the limitation periods are no longer suspended under O.Reg. 73/20.

For general information concerning the Tribunal, including the LPAT appeal process, you can visit the LPAT website,  or call 416-212-6349.  For specific questions about how Ontario’s Emergency Order is affecting LPAT proceedings contact:

Tribunal Deputy Registrar
Evelyn Dawes

Contact us to request a document