Corman Park-Saskatoon Planning District Concept Plan Strategy Update

As we are at the mid-point of the initial concept plan for the Corman Park – Saskatoon Planning District, the two administrations have taken the opportunity to evaluate the process so far and to review the study areas that were identified last year.  In order to address growing interest for development in the Planning District, as well as identify opportunities and challenges to this development in a timely fashion, we presented a revised Concept Plan Study Area strategy and corresponding study areas map to the District Planning Commission in early April.  The revised strategy and corresponding map, results in reducing the number of study areas from eight to six, which allows us to review the areas within the Planning District more efficiently, while at the same time provides economic savings to both municipalities.  The District Planning Commission supports this change.  The details of the report presented to the District Planning Commission can be viewed here, along with the revised study areas map.  

The new strategy and updated study areas map will be utilized as we move forward with the next concept plans, particularly for Areas 2 and 3, which have been slightly adjusted, as a result.  Work is anticipated to begin on these next two concept plans, for areas within the North West and South West portions of the Planning District, in the fall of this year (pending RM budget approval).

The South East Concept Plan

The South East Concept Plan is the first of several concept plans to be pursued under the joint supervision of City and RM staff.  For more information regarding this project click here.

Highlights of the 2010 Corman Park-Saskatoon Planning District Official Community Plan

The Corman Park-Saskatoon Planning District is an area located within the Rural Municipality of Corman Park that surrounds the City of Saskatoon. In this area, City Council and the RM of Corman Park Council have agreed to jointly manage land use and development. 

In 2006, Corman Park and Saskatoon completed a review of the Corman Park-Saskatoon Planning District, with significant input from landowners in the Corman Park-Saskatoon Planning District.  That review recommended a new Official Community Plan to better meet the changing demands and opportunities for land use and development.

Future Land Use Planning

• A Future Land Use Map will designate land for existing and potential future multi-parcel residential (that is, clustered acreage development), commercial and industrial uses, and for Saskatoon future growth sectors. It will not designate land for other uses.
• Before land can be rezoned or developed for multi-parcel residential, commercial or industrial use, it must be designated on the Future Land Use Map. Changes to the Future Land Use Map require approvals from City Council and the RM of Corman Park Council.
• Corman Park and Saskatoon will use Concept Plans, prepared for the various areas of the Corman Park-Saskatoon Planning District, to guide land use and development decisions. Concept Plans show future land uses, road networks and other major services.
• Applicants for certain new developments must submit a Comprehensive Development Review (CDR) to describe the proposal in detail and ensure it is compatible with the surrounding area. CDRs address social, environmental, health and economic matters, and help to ensure high quality developments.

Multi-Parcel Residential and Commercial Policies

• Multi-parcel residential developments and commercial developments do not have to be one mile from City of Saskatoon limits.
• Multi-parcel residential developments do not have to be one mile from each other.
• New multi-parcel residential developments must connect to a central treated water supply, and create a private septic utility to manage their septic systems.
• The lot sizes in multi-parcel residential developments can be smaller. 

Single-Parcel Residential Policies

• There is more flexibility in creating single-parcel residential sites (that is, two building sites per quarter section of land) - rezoning may not always be required, and subdivision of the quarter section into 80 acre parcels is not required.
• Certain parcels that are split by a highway or a rail line may be eligible for more development, and 40 acre parcels created before 1983 may be eligible for residential development.
• Non-agricultural development is prevented in areas that would be most severely affected during a 1:500 flood event, but flood-proofed development is allowed in areas that would be less affected.