The Planning and Development Department has received an application from Wallace Insights (the applicant) proposing to amend the Official Community Plan (OCP) Land Use Map designation and rezone 700, 702 and 704 Central Avenue to accommodate future residential development.

Proposal

1. Proposed OCP Land Use Map Amendment – From Institutional to Medium Density Residential

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

700, 702 and 704 Central Avenue are currently designated as “Institutional”. The applicant has applied to redesignate the three sites from “Institutional” to “Medium Density Residential”. Land designated as “Medium Density Residential” has the potential for a range of residential building types (such as dwelling-groups, stacked townhouses, low-rise and mid-rise multiple-unit dwellings) and community uses. These sites are typically served by collector or arterial streets and are in proximity to Community Focal Points, and/or within the Corridor Growth Area.

2. Proposed Rezoning

700, 702 and 704 Central Avenue are currently zoned M1 – Local Institutional Service District, which provides for a limited range of institutional and community activities that are generally compatible with low density residential uses and capable of being located within a neighbourhood setting.

The applicant is proposing to rezone the sites to RM4 – Medium/High Density Multiple Unit Dwelling District. The purpose of the RM4 district is to provide for a variety of residential developments in a medium to high density form as well as related community uses.

What is a Rezoning? 
All property in the City of Saskatoon is assigned a zoning designation under the Zoning Bylaw No. 9990, 2024. Within each zoning designation, specific land uses are either permitted, discretionary, or prohibited.

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 review process.

Both Official Community Plan amendments and rezoning applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis where both the subject site(s) and the surrounding neighbourhood are considered in the review.

What is the Typical Process for an Amendment Application?

When an amendment application is received by Planning and Development, it is reviewed for conformity with the Official Community Plan, Zoning Bylaw, and other applicable city planning policies and development regulations. The application is also circulated to other Civic Departments to review technical considerations such as the capacity of water, wastewater, stormwater, and transportation infrastructure to accommodate the proposal.

Once internal review by the relevant Civic Departments is complete, public engagement on the application is undertaken. This phase of the process provides the opportunity for members of the public to review a proposal, ask questions, identify issues, and provide comment. Registered property owners, typically within 150 metres of the subject site, the Community Association, and the Ward Councillor are notified of the application, and are invited to provide questions and comments. When necessary, a public information meeting is held that may include a formal presentation, and question and answer session.

Following public engagement, Planning and Development prepares a report that includes a recommendation on the application, and outlines information collected from the internal review and public engagement processes. The report is first considered by the Municipal Planning Commission, an advisory committee to City Council.

The final decision to approve or deny an amendment application rests with City Council which considers the report, and recommendation along with the Municipal Planning Commission’s feedback at a Public Hearing. Any member of the public is welcome to provide a written submission or address City Council regarding the application at the Public Hearing.