Reviewing an Official Plan amendment application involves many City departments, including, Engineering, Roads, Environmental Services, Building, Water and Wastewater, etc. Other external agencies are also involved. The Planning Act describes the rules on when consultation takes place, with whom, and to what degree.
Official Plan
The City of Kenora's Official Plan provides a vision for the future growth of the city and guides use of land and physical development over the long-term. A significant planning document, the Official Plan also outlines the municipality's position on:
- Where new housing, industry, offices, shops, and other land uses are to be located
- What services like roads, watermains, sewers, parks, and schools will be needed
- When, and in what order, parts of the City will grow
- Protecting agricultural land, aggregates, natural and cultural heritage resources, and ground and surface water
- Community improvement initiatives
Maps
The Official Plan includes maps that divide the City into a number of different areas for various types of land use. These areas have policies around development that can affect your development.
Official plan amendment
An Official Plan amendment can be citywide, area-wide or site-specific. Each proposal is unique and changes may be needed because of new circumstances in the community or because of requests made by property owners.
View the application fees.
Pre-consultation
Before filing an application, it is recommended that you contact the Planning team to set up a pre-consultation meeting. During the meeting, we will outline what you need to include in your application, including the planning rationale.
Official plan amendments may:
- Change the land use designation of a property
- Apply new policies or an exception to the policies of a property as part of a proposed development that is not allowed under the existing Official Plan
An Official Plan amendment may also require other approvals before the development can take place such as a Zoning By-law amendment. You can apply for both at the same time.
Approval process and timeline
Official Plan amendment applications typically take two to three months before final approval is given. This includes the timeframes for the public notice, public hearing, Council meeting, and the mandatory appeal period of 20 days, after notice of Council’s decision is given.
The applicant installs a notification sign on the lands affected by the proposed Official Plan amendment. The sign will be provided by the Planning Division. A hearing date is assigned and the City notifies relevant external agencies and all property owners within 120 m of the subject property of the application.
Council decision and appeal period
City Council then approves or refuses the Official Plan amendment during the formal hearing date. The decision may be appealed to the Ontario land Tribunal, which is the provincial tribunal that is the final decision-maker of any appeal planning decisions. Only the applicant, the Minister, and the Municipality can appeal the decision.
If you, as a member of the public, would like to get involved, you can:
- Submit written comments to the Planning Division
- You can also make a presentation when the proposed zoning by-law amendment is presented for review at the formal hearing at City Hall.
If you choose to make a presentation, be prepared to come with information about how you believe the proposal impacts you.
Under the Planning Act, only the applicant, the Minister, and the Municipality can appeal Council’s decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Frequently asked questions
Review our frequently asked questions to learn more about the Official Plan.
Is there a difference between the Official Plan and Zoning By-law?
Yes. An Official Plan and a Zoning By-law are two separate documents. However, they complement each other.
Official Plans set out the community's vision and goals for the future. Zoning By-laws put the Official Plan into effect and is a legally-enforceable document.
Is a land use designation and zone the same thing?
No. Zoning is a term used to describe the applicable category in a Zoning By-law. A designation is a word used to describe a land use category in an Official Plan. Every property within the City of Kenora, and across Ontario, has both a zone and a land use designation assigned to it.
Additional resources
Check out these important resources:
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