No, the City is not buying up private properties or demolishing existing buildings. Any redevelopment will be driven by individual property owners.

Land use sets out the general types of development envisioned for different areas of the city, whereas the Zoning Bylaw is a rulebook that gives the specific requirements for the buildings and activities that are allowed on each piece of land ("site").

A site’s land use designation dictates what zoning districts are acceptable for that site. For example, when a property owner wishes to go through the rezoning process to change the zoning of their land, if their land is proposed for the Station Mixed Use land use, it would be rezoned to the CS1 Corridor Station Mixed-Use 1 District.

Zoning requirements include things such as a building’s maximum height, how far the building must be from the street, and what activities the building can be used for.

The Corridor Planning team developed the initial proposed land use maps using a broad application of the definitions of the Corridor Land Uses provided in the Official Community Plan. The decision tree below explains this process (click for larger file):

The public parks that are located within the corridor area boundaries are proposed to be changed to the new Park land use designation that was added in the Official Community Plan in 2020. This is simply an administrative change - the land will continue to be used as a public park - no development is intended.

The City of Saskatoon’s Growth Plan to Half a Million, approved in 2016, commits to a future where more residents use walking, cycling and public transit as their primary method of moving around Saskatoon. Supporting growth and development in corridor areas, where the City is investing in a Bus Rapid Transit system, is the purpose of this project. We anticipate that people and businesses who choose to move into these areas would want to rely on the future BRT system, as well as walking, rolling and cycling, for their daily commute and other transportation needs. However, parking will still be available in these areas for residents and businesses, it may just look different in the future.

More direction from City Council regarding minimum parking requirements for new developments is expected this winter, as part of the City's Housing Action Plan.

One-unit and two-unit dwellings are fully permitted within the Corridor Residential land use designation and the corresponding zoning districts CR1 Corridor Residential 1 District and CR2 Corridor Residential 2 District. There will be no impact or change unless individual landowners wish to redevelop.

On lands designated Corridor Mixed Use or Station Mixed Use, because the intent for future development is increased residential density, one-unit and two-unit dwellings are not permitted, but existing dwellings will be able to stay as they are. For example, if an existing one-unit dwelling is located on a site designated Station Mixed Use and only if if the landowner opts in to rezone the site to the corresponding CS1 Corridor Station Mixed-Use 1 District, then that existing one-unit dwelling will be deemed “non-conforming”. Until the owner chooses to redevelop, a non-conforming building may continue to be used, maintained and renovated, but any work on the building must not increase its size or alter its configuration on that site. Important to note: Non-conformity is governed by zoning rather than the land use designation - solely changing the proposed land use will not result in any buildings being considered non-conforming.

Legal heritage protections for designated heritage properties will continue through existing heritage property designation, regardless of changes to land use or zoning of those sites.

No zoning changes are expected for now, as current zones already fit well for the Corridor Main Street land use where proposed (e.g., Broadway, 20th Street, 33rd Street).

The intent of proposing Corridor Main Street land use is to recognize historic or significant commercial districts located within the Corridor Growth Area and promote medium density mixed use developments in areas that are pedestrian-oriented and transit-oriented.

The tools for this project – land use plans and zoning – do not have the ability to directly dictate the affordability of new developments. However, by creating land use plans that promote more housing development, and by offering to lead the rezoning process for any interested landowner, the City is working to simplify the process of creating new housing across Saskatoon, which would benefit organizations wanting to build new affordable housing developments.

Beyond this project, the City recognizes the challenge of housing affordability and has committed to exploring innovative solutions to removing barriers to new housing. For details, please see the Housing Action Plan.

Current work is focusing on the land use planning for the five corridor plan areas. In the future, the City will return to these areas to create full Corridor Plans that include not just plans for future land use, but also plans for improvements to public spaces and amenities (streetscapes, parks, plazas, etc.). In the meantime, the Corridor Planning team is continuing to work on the College Corridor Plan.

This project will include analysis of utility infrastructure, such as water and sewer services, as well as transportation infrastructure, to ensure that the City considers any potential upgrades that may be needed to support the future growth intended through the proposed land use plans. Additionally, as specific development proposals are submitted, each proposal will be individually evaluated by City departments to check if any infrastructure needs or concerns must be addressed.

Please contact the team via email: corridorplans@saskatoon.ca