City Initiated Official Plan Amendment (OPA 40) in response to Provincial Amendments to the Planning Act (Bill 97) regarding Employment Areas

The Planning and Building Services Department has initiated an amendment to the City of St. Catharines Official Plan (The Garden City Plan) to address recent Provincial changes to the Planning Act, including updates to the definition of Employment Areas affecting conversion of employment lands for other uses.

Through Bill 97, the Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023, the definition of “area of employment” has been amended and excludes institutional and commercial uses not associated with another core employment use (for example, manufacturing, research, warehousing). The purpose of OPA 40 is to establish a transition policy in the City’s Official Plan to recognize existing uses, now excluded from the definition, and permit their continuation, provided the use was lawfully established prior to the definition changing.

Public Meeting:

City Council is hosting a Legislated Public Meeting on Sept. 25, 2023, to receive input and comment on the proposed Official Plan Amendment, after which Council will consider staff’s recommendation on the amendment and make a decision on the matter.

Details of the Legislated Public Meeting

Date: Monday, Sept. 25, 2023

Time: 6 p.m.

Location: In-person at City Hall (Council Chambers), electronic participation using Zoom and broadcast on YouTube and YourTV.

Visit stcatharines.ca/Council for information on how to access and participate in the meeting, and how to request and make a delegation before Council.

Written submissions must be received by noon the Thursday before the public meeting by mailing or delivering them to:

City of St. Catharines Legal and Clerk Services / City’s Clerks Division, City Hall, 50 Church Street, P.O. Box 3012, St. Catharines, ON, L2R7C2.

Refer to File Nos. 23 108856 OP

Email submissions may also be made by noon on the day of the public meeting and directed to clerks@stcatharines.ca. Both oral and written comments and recommendations received will be taken into account by City Council in making a decision on the subject matter.

Appeal Rights:

For more information about this matter, including information about appeal rights, contact Taya Devlin, Planning and Building Services Department at 905.688.5601, ext. 1709, via email at tdevlin@stcatharines.ca or the City’s TTY number (text telephone) at 905.688.4TTY (4889).