Penetanguishene council gained the initiative recently as they passed their new comprehensive zoning bylaw, repealing and replacing a bylaw that had been in effect dating back to 2000.
The 2022 comprehensive zoning bylaw, as carried by council, “will serve to regulate the use of the land and the character, location and size of buildings and structures within the boundaries of the Town of Penetanguishene.”
Within the 146-page document are a preamble on the purpose and usage of the zoning bylaw, followed by multiple parts that implement the policies of the official plan for the town.
Readers are provided a guideline on how to use the bylaw: starting with locating the property on a map; confirming any bylaw amendments, minor variances and exceptions; determining permitted uses and zone standards for the property; looking at town-wide general provisions that could apply; consulting parking and loading provisions; and identifying if any holding zones and temporary uses are required to be met for permitted use.
Coun. Debbie Levy spoke to its importance at a recent regular meeting of council.
“This is a significant move forward for our planning department,” Levy stated.
“This solidifies our official plan and our strategic plan, and this has been part of my life for 20 years in one way or another.”
Levy congratulated and thanked planning and community development director Andrea Betty and planner Owen Taylor, as well as providing a general thanks to all of the consultants who had been a part of the procedure throughout the decades.
“It had been delayed a great deal by policy changes at the county and the provincial level, and it will affect every property in this municipality one way or another,” Levy noted.
“I would encourage residents to give this a good read-through when they get the opportunity, to understand how this is going to impact their property.”
Levy also took a moment to boast of the accomplishment to be first out of the gate with Penetanguishene’s neighbouring municipalities.
“I want to add that we’re the first one in North Simcoe to have brought this to fruition, and only one of a handful in Simcoe County; so we’re ahead of the game, again, as we were with our official plan,” Levy announced.
The Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw 2022-17 can be located on the zoning bylaw review page of the Connect Penetanguishene website.
Meetings of Penetanguishene council are held on the second Wednesday of each month, and can be watched live on Rogers TV cable 53, or on the Rogers TV website.
Archives of council meetings are located on the Town of Penetanguishene YouTube channel.
