Downtown Policy Amendments

The Town continues to implement the Downtown Development Master Plan by focusing redevelopment efforts on land in the Beach One area.

In order to support these efforts, Council has initiated amendments to the planning policy framework that align with the Beach One Redevelopment initiative, Request for Proposals for development partners, and the road improvements recommended in the Main Street and Beach Areas One and Two Municipal Class Environmental Assessment.

OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT

The proposed amendment would make modifications to Official Plan policies for Downtown Wasaga Beach that increase flexibility in how the Beach One component is developed, and various other matters as follows:

• Increase flexibility by softening policy language relating to a variety of matters including public investment in facilities and roads/infrastructure, urban design guidelines, and roundabouts;
• Define road design and road width (20 metres) for Beach Drive and Spruce Street that is in alignment with the Environmental Assessment process;
• Enhance pedestrian streets and connections policies for Beach Drive, 1^st Street North and 2^nd Street North, and potential pedestrian overpass;
• Soften language with respect to urban design guidelines while maintaining general conformity with them;
• Increase flexibility in policies for Beach Area One relating to residential uses at-grade on side streets, parking, and location and development standards for Festival Square; and
• Clarify public open space and Festival/Town Square policies for height and density bonusing contributions and land acquisition/assembly.

These changes support the Beach One Redevelopment initiative, implement the recommendations of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process for Downtown transportation improvements, and increase flexibility by softening policy language for various matters.

The land use designations and policies for Downtown Wasaga Beach that were put in place by Official Plan Amendment No. 52 (2018) remain substantially the same, with no changes in mapping. The supporting materials contain a red-lined version of OPA 52 (to illustrate proposed changes only), and a technical by-law that would be passed by Council to bring the proposed changes into effect, which can be reviewed here.

ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENT

The proposed amendment would:

• Change the zoning of specific lands at Beach Area One that are currently zoned Beach Transition Holding (B2H) Zone to the Beach Mixed-Use Holding (B1H) Zone. This change would apply to the lands located between 3^rd Street North and the Playland Parking Lot, and between Beach Drive and Mosley Street.
• Permit a Take Out Restaurant use in the B1 Zone.

These changes would ensure that a consistent B1H Zone apply to all lands within the Beach One Redevelopment Area, which allows a greater range of permitted uses and development opportunity (maximum building height of six storeys) than the B2H zone. The Zoning By-law Amendment can be found here.

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN (CIP) AMENDMENT

The proposed amendment to the Downtown Community Improvement Plan would:

• Expand the “Priority Investment Area” to contain additional Beach Area One lands, adding the lands from Playland Parking Lot to 3^rd Street between Beach Drive and Mosley Street; and
• Soften the language so that proposed development conforms to the general intent of the Downtown Urban Design Guidelines and the goals, objectives and intent of the Downtown Development Master Plan (DDMP).

The Downtown Community Improvement Plan (2017) remains substantially the same, with more Beach One lands added to the “Priority Investment Area”, and softened language. These changes would align with the Zoning By-law changes by allowing more properties in the Beach One Redevelopment area to be eligible for incentives under the Community Improvement Plan, and provide more flexibility in the eligibility criteria for development proposals to meet the general intent of the guiding documents.

The supporting materials contain a red-lined version of the Downtown Community Improvement Plan (to illustrate proposed changes only), and a technical by-law that would be passed by Council to bring the proposed changes into effect, which can be reviewed here.

If you would like more general information on the Downtown Community Improvement Plan, please visit the Town's website by clicking here to read the Frequently Asked Questions.

For more detail and information on the proposed amendments, please review the 'Proposed Amendments for Public Review' to the right-hand side of this page. The Highlights and Staff Report under 'Relevant Documents' also provide helpful information on the proposed amendments.