The Planning and Development Department has received a land use application from the Government of Saskatchewan (applicant) proposing to amend the Official Community Plan (OCP) Land Use Map and rezone their property located at 1701 Idylwyld Drive North, subject to a Zoning Agreement. These amendments would provide for the development of a “Special Care Home” land use, which would include up to 15 complex needs spaces for the care and treatment of individuals at the subject site.

Proposal

1. OCP Land Use Map Amendment – From Light Industrial to Institutional

All property in the City of Saskatoon is assigned a land use designation under the OCP. Land use designations establish the general use and character of a site or area to help ensure that development takes place in an orderly, rational manner. Each land use designation is distinct in its purpose and density/intensity of use.

1701 Idylwyld Drive North is currently designated as “Light Industrial” land use. The applicant has applied to redesignate the site to “Institutional” to align it with the proposed use of Special Care Home as would be provided through the application of a Zoning Agreement.

Land designated as “Light Industrial” has the potential for industrial uses and processes, such as manufacturing, assembly and repair, warehousing, wholesale distribution and limited retailing. Activities in Light Industrial areas are normally conducted indoors and should not create land use conflicts due to excessive noise, vibration, dust, smoke or odour, although outdoor storage is permitted.

Land designated as “Institutional” has the potential for institutional, health, educational, recreational, cultural facilities and community uses. Residential development may be a secondary use within an Institutional area.

2. Rezoning Subject to a Zoning Agreement – From General Light Industrial District (IL1) to Community Institutional District (M2)

All property in the City of Saskatoon is assigned a zoning designation under Zoning Bylaw No. 9900. Within each zoning designation, specific land uses are either permitted, discretionary or prohibited.

1701 Idylwyld Drive North is currently zoned IL1 – General Light Industrial District and is proposed to be rezoned to M2 – Community Institutional District to accommodate the proposed use of “Special Care Home” for the operation of a Complex Needs Emergency Shelter for up to 15 individuals.

The purpose of the IL1 district is to facilitate economic development through a wide variety of light industrial activities and related businesses that do not create land use conflicts or nuisance conditions during the normal course of operations.

The purpose of the M2 district is to facilitate a moderate range of institutional and community activities, as well as medium density residential uses, that are generally compatible with residential land uses and capable of being located in a neighbourhood setting subject to appropriate site selection.

A “Special Care Home” is defined as a nursing home, supervisory care home, sheltered care home or other facility used for the purpose of providing supervisory care, personal care and nursing care.

What is a Rezoning?

All property in the City of Saskatoon is assigned a zoning designation under the Zoning Bylaw No. 9990, 2024. Specific land uses are permitted, prohibited, or discretionary within each zoning designation.

Applications to change the zoning designation of a property may be considered through a rezoning process, which includes review by City Administration and engagement with the surrounding neighbourhood. All rezoning applications require a decision by City Council at a Public Hearing upon the conclusion of the process.

Rezoning applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis where both the subject site and the surrounding neighbourhood are considered in the review.

What is a Zoning Agreement?

In some instances, a regulatory tool called a Zoning Agreement may be used when a specific development is proposed as part of a rezoning application. A Zoning Agreement is a binding legal agreement that, if 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. The Agreement may specify permitted uses of the land and standards respecting building form, scale and site layout among other considerations.

For this application, a Zoning Agreement is proposed to be employed to address the specific use of a “Special Care Home” and development standards respecting the existing building and site. Other items may be identified during the review process.

1. Review by City Departments: When a land use application is received, the Planning and Development Department reviews the proposal for alignment with the City's OCP, Zoning Bylaw and other planning documents. Technical details such as infrastructure and transportation system capacity are also reviewed by other internal departments. Applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis where both the subject site and the surrounding neighbourhood are considered in the review.
2. Public Engagement: After the internal review by the City, the public may review the proposal, ask questions and give feedback. Property owners within 300 metres of the site, the Community Association and the Ward Councillor are notified and invited to comment. For this application, a public meeting will be held where information is provided and questions may be asked.
3. Municipal Planning Commission Review and City Council Public Hearing: Following public engagement, the Planning and Development Department will prepare an Administrative Report with a recommendation as well as an Engagement Summary Report which will be submitted to the Municipal Planning Committee and City Council. The final decision is made by City Council at a Public Hearing. Council will consider the Administrative Report and the recommendation and the feedback from the Municipal Planning Commission. Anyone from the public may also submit written comments or speak at the hearing.

An in-person come-and-go public information meeting with representatives from the Government of Saskatchewan and City of Saskatoon is scheduled on:

June 24, 2025 
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Saskatchewan Polytechnic Cafeteria,1130 Idylwyld Drive North. 

Parking is available on-site in the parking lot at the corner of 3^rd St E and Idylwyld Drive North (paid parking).

A Complex Needs Emergency Shelter is a Government of Saskatchewan facility that provides secure care and health support for individuals detained by police under section 52 of The Summary Offences Procedure Act, 1990 (SOPA); police transfer custodian responsibility of individuals detained under SOPA to the service provider at the subject site to be held for up to 24 hours.

The Government of Saskatchewan has provided the following information on Complex Needs Emergency Shelters:

• Questions about the operation of the Complex Needs Emergency Shelter may be emailed to the Mental Health and Addictions Branch in the Ministry of Health at MHAB@health.gov.sk.ca.
• Questions about the Land Use Application and the City’s role and processes may be emailed to the Community Services Division, Planning and Development Department at city.planning@saskatoon.ca.
• Information on shelter spaces may also be viewed on the City’s website at saskatoon.ca/shelterspaces.