TCRT Investments Inc. has applied to amend the existing Zoning Agreement for 105 Ave F South, located in the Riversdale neighbourhood.

Existing Zoning Agreement

The subject property is currently zoned B3 – Medium Density Arterial Commercial District, subject to a Zoning Agreement that was approved by City Council in 2003 and amended in 2004. A Zoning Agreement is a legal agreement that establishes site-specific regulations for how a property may be developed and used.

The existing Zoning Agreement provides for use of the property as a large format “grocery/dry goods” retail store with specific minimum percentages of gross floor area dedicated to specific retail sales, and minimum gross sales reporting requirements. There is also the provision for an additional restaurant or multi-tenant commercial retail unit building. The additional restaurant existing is the currently operating Tim Hortons.

Request to Amend Zoning Agreement

TCRT Investments Inc. has applied to:

• Amend the existing Zoning Agreement to revise the text describing retail sales to align with current planning practices in how a retail store land use is defined.
• Allow for the renovation of the existing large format retail store (previously Giant Tiger) to provide for more than one commercial retail unit within the existing building footprint. 

Zoning Bylaw No. 9990 defines "retail store" as a place where goods, wares or merchandise are offered for sale or rent, including a pawnshop and may include the manufacturing of products to be sold on-site, provided the gross floor area used for manufacturing does not exceed 25% of the gross floor area of the retail store.

All other land uses already permitted in the existing Zoning Agreement are proposed to remain.

There is no specific retail operation proposed at this time. This amendment would provide for flexibility in securing future retail tenant(s) for the existing building.
 

What is a Zoning Agreement?

All property in the City of Saskatoon is assigned a zoning designation under Zoning Bylaw No. 9990. Within each zoning designation, specific land uses and forms of development are either permitted, discretionary, or prohibited.

In some instances, a regulatory tool called a Zoning Agreement may be used to accommodate a specific development proposal. A Zoning Agreement is a binding legal agreement that, once approved by City Council, is tied to the land and ensures that only the specific development proposal put forward by the applicant can be constructed on the property. It may specify permitted uses of the land and standards respecting building form, scale, and site layout, among other considerations.

In order to amend a Zoning Agreement, an application and review process is required that includes technical review, public engagement, and a decision by City Council at a Public Hearing upon the conclusion of the process.

Application Process

1. Review by City Departments: When an application to amend a Zoning Agreement is received, the Planning and Development team checks if it follows the City's Official Community Plan, Zoning Bylaw and other rules. They also send it to other city departments to look at the technical details, such as if the water, wastewater, stormwater and transportation systems can support the proposal.
2. Public Engagement: After the internal review by the City, the public gets a chance to look at the proposal, ask questions and give feedback. Property owners within 75-150 meters of the site, the Community Association and the Ward Councillor are notified and invited to comment. Sometimes, a public meeting is held where the proposal is presented, and people can ask questions.
3. Report Preparation: Planning and Development writes a report with a recommendation on the application. This report includes feedback from both the internal review and the public.
4. Municipal Planning Commission Review: The report is first reviewed by the Municipal Planning Commission, which advises City Council.
5. City Council Decision: The final decision is made by City Council at a Public Hearing. They consider the report, the recommendation and the feedback from the Municipal Planning Commission. Anyone from the public can submit written comments or speak at the hearing.