Planning Policy & Urban Design

Aerial View of Owen Sound

The Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) provides direction on matters of provincial interest related to land use planning and development. The long term prosperity of Ontario depends on planning for strong, sustainable, and resilient communities.

The PPS applies to all decisions relating to a land use planning matter. The City's Official Plan is the most important vehicle for implementing the PPS. Comprehensive, integrated, and long term planning is best achieved through Official Plans.

Official Plan

The purpose of the plan is to provide policies, goals and objectives to guide the development, growth, and redevelopment of Owen Sound for the next 25 years. Our Official Plan was adopted in 2022 after completion of a comprehensive review process. It is Council's contract with the community about how development will be considered and evaluated and provides a guide for physical growth within the context of social, economic and environmental matters, and is detailed in the following documents:

The Planning Act requires that municipalities conduct a review of their Official Plan every 10 years, and the City of Owen Sound has initiated the current review in order to meet this requirement. For more information, please visit the Official Plan Update page.

Community Improvement Plan

A Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is a tool that allows municipal planners and economic developers to work together to create policies and provide incentives targeting specific types of growth and investment.

A CIP for the City of Owen Sound has been prepared to serve as a long-term strategy to revitalize the community.

The entirety of the City is designated as a Community Improvement Project Area. In addition, Council has identified the City's downtown and harbour area as a Community Improvement Project Sub-area.

The CIP has five financial incentive programs that provide capital grant funding to eligible property owners and authorized tenants of land and buildings each year:

Façade & Structural Improvement Grant Program
Accessibility Improvement Grant Program
Start-up Space Leasehold Improvement Grant Program
Landscaping & Property Improvement Grant Program
Vacant Building Conversion & Expansion Grant Program

All CIP programs are subject to City budget allocation.

Read our General Application Guidelines for more information.

The Grant Program Application Form is used to apply for any of the programs listed above.

Façade & Structural Improvement Grant Program

The Façade and Structural Improvement Grant Program encourages the restoration and rehabilitation of street-facing exteriors of buildings within the City's Downtown & Harbour Area or any building with a heritage designation within the City boundaries.

This program offers grants to eligible property owners and authorized tenants to improve the façade of the building to fit the original design. The program also offers grants to complete structural improvements for the safety or integrity of the structure.

Read our Façade & Structural Improvement Program Guidelines for more information.

Accessibility Improvement Grant Program

The Accessibility Improvement Grant Program promotes improvements to properties for the purposes of enhancing accessibility in the built environment. It is intended that any improvements considered under this program will meet or exceed the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Building Code.

This program offers grants to eligible property owners and authorized tenants of commercial, industrial, mixed-use, and multi-unit residential properties within the municipal boundary of the City. The program also offers grants to buildings within the Downtown for interior accessibility improvements.

Read our Accessibility Improvement Grant Program Guidelines for more information.

Start-up Space Leasehold Improvement Grant Program

The Start-up Space Leasehold Improvement Grant Program assists new businesses and start-up companies with permanent leasehold improvements to commercial or mixed-use spaces that increase the marketability of the property and commercial rental units.

This program offers grants to eligible property owners and authorized tenants within a commercial or mixed-use building within the City's Downtown.

Read our Start-up Space Leasehold Improvement Grant Program Guidelines for more information.

Landscaping & Property Improvement Grant Program

The Landscaping & Property Improvement Grant Program encourages property owners and tenants of land to improve their properties, including parking areas, through the installation of appropriate landscaping, fencing, exterior lighting, pedestrian connections, street furniture, and patios.

This program offers grants to eligible property owners and authorized tenants of existing commercial, industrial, mixed-use, and multi-unit residential properties, as defined by the City's CIP. New infill mixed-use and multi-unit residential development that satisfies the definition of Affordable/Attainable Housing and the redevelopment of remediation of a Brownfield or Greyfield property, as defined by the City's CIP, will also be considered eligible.

Read our Landscaping and Property Improvement Guidelines for more information.

Vacant Building Conversion & Expansion Grant Program

The Vacant Building Conversion & Expansion Grant Program assists in the conversion of existing vacant space into a new or more suitable commercial use or a mixed use, as defined by the City's CIP.

Read our Vacant Building Conversion & Expansion Grant Program Guidelines for more information.

Heritage Property Tax Relief Program

This heritage program provides tax refunds to eligible designated property owners. Eligible heritage property owners are able to apply each tax year. If you are the owner of a designated property and interested if your property applies, contact the City's Planning and Heritage Division.

Brownfields Tax Incentive and Vacant Lands Tax Assistance Program

The Brownfields Tax Incentive is intended to promote environmental cleanup and rehabilitation of vacant or underused lands which may be contaminated from their former use.

The Vacant Lands Tax Assistance Program is intended to promote redevelopment of vacant land in the Downtown and Harbour Area.

For help on applying to the Brownfields Tax Incentive or Vacant Lands Tax Assistance Program, read our Brownfields Financial Tax Incentive & Vacant Lands Tax Assistance Program Application.

Retail & Commercial Policy Review

The Retail & Commercial Policy Review assessed retail and commercial policies, current trends, and the goals and objectives of the City (particularly in supporting the vibrancy of the downtown) and provides policy recommendations to be considered in the City's upcoming Official Plan review.

A portion of this project included a review of the current Policy Framework and site specific zoning provisions and recent planning applications associated with commercial development, as well as expansions/changes in the context of the local market.

Public input was received through an online survey and a stakeholder working session as well as Committee review. This input was used to inform final policy recommendations to be further considered by the City. Updates to Official Plan policies will be further considered through the five-year review process and a separate public input opportunity.

Harbour and Downtown Urban Design/Master Plan Strategy

The Owen Sound Harbour & Downtown Urban Design/Master Plan Strategy is part of the Official Plan and provides guidance for improvement in the harbour and downtown area.

In 2000, the City undertook the creation of the master plan to integrate the redevelopment potential of the downtown and harbourfront with public infrastructure. The goal of the plan is to establish the right mix of activities, development, and infrastructure investment that will reinforce the strength of the downtown and harbour. The Owen Sound Harbour & Downtown Urban Design/Master Plan Strategy sets a positive direction to create a climate of redevelopment.

Street Furniture & Sidewalk Patio Design Guidelines

The Street Furniture & Sidewalk Patio Design Guidelines direct the appropriate design and furnishings for sidewalk patios and ensure the safety and accessibility of pedestrians.

The guidelines are a part of the Harbour and Downtown Urban Design/Master Plan Strategy.

To apply for a sidewalk patio, please submit a Sidewalk Patio Application to the Planning and Heritage Division.

Residential Tree Preservation Policy

The Residential Tree Preservation Policy provides guidelines for planting residential trees. The goals of the policy are:

To care for existing trees, woodlots and natural features;
To offer landscaping at the street line that does not conflict with neighbouring properties;
To even out steep banks with ground cover and trees;
To select plants that are ecologically sound;
To select plants able to survive all seasons;
Use native plant species; and
Avoid use of invasive plants.

Feel free to reference the Residential Tree Preservation Policy.

Draft Site Alteration By-law

The City is exploring the concept of regulating site alteration on private property, which is proposed prior to or outside of the standard development approvals process. Site alteration can include things such as changes to site grades, placement of fill, and removal of trees. Most municipalities across the province have a Site Alteration By-law in force, especially those that are subject to moderate to high development pressure. Regulating site alteration will contribute to the City’s vision of enhancing our resiliency and capacity for mitigating and adapting to the impact of climate change and of being a modern and efficient municipal government that makes citizen’s lives better every day.

The City’s Community Services Committee considered an introduction to the concept of site alteration regulation through a Technical Report (CS-21-084) at its meeting on July 7, 2021. This report and the meeting minutes can be found on the City’s Council and Committees webpage at: www.owensound.ca/meetings

The proposed Site Alteration will be considered by City Council through the Operations Advisory Committee and Community Services Committee after comments have been received and considered in a staff recommendation report.

Additional information can also be obtained at City Hall, 808 2^nd Avenue East, from 8:30am-4:30pm Monday through Friday. Comments are requested on or before May 20, 2022. Comments and questions can be directed to the City’s Development Team through the Planning Division via phone 519-376-4440 ext. 1232 or email planning@owensound.ca.

Draft Site Alteration By-law and Schedules

Draft Site Alteration By-law No. 2022-027

Schedule A - Minimum Site Alteration Standards

Schedule B - Site Alteration Plan Requirements

Schedule C - Fill Management Plan Standards

Schedule D - Tree Inventory and Preservation Study Standards

Schedule E - Tree Replacement Requirements

Schedule F - Nuisance Tree List

Need further information?

The Citizen's Guides to Land Use Planning are Provincial government publications providing a summary of the key aspects of land use planning. Explore the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing website for information on planning, local government, and housing.