One-Sentence Summary
Council reviewed Official Plan Amendment policies regarding institutional lands and retail studies, considered zoning consolidation to reduce residential categories from five to two flexible areas, and passed By-law Number 2025-126 after a member moved the motion which was seconded by Speaker 01.
Whole Meeting Summary
Council reviewed policies concerning institutional lands, employment designations, retail market study requirements, potential changes to mandatory retail studies due to evolving downtown functions, and raising official plan height limits for accessory buildings from five metres while clarifying that wind and shadow studies remain optional site plan requirements under provincial review. Council convened a statutory public meeting regarding Official Plan Amendment No. 14 and Zoning By-law Amendment No. 57, where MHBC Planning led the presentation to consolidate residential zones while ensuring conformity with provincial policy through the proposed zoning bylaw amendment. Council adopted By-law No. 2025-126 following a motion made by Travis Dodd and seconded by Speaker 01 during this agenda item.
Most Newsworthy Items
- Review of Employment Areas and Retail Market Studies: Council reviewed Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw policies regarding institutional lands, employment designations, and retail market study requirements for commercial development.
- City Clerk Announced That Public Meetings for Official Plan Amendment No. 14: The City Clerk announced that public meetings for Official Plan Amendment No. 14 were held under Section 26 of the Planning Act to receive input on proposed changes.
- Council convened a statutory public meeting for Zoning By-law Amendment No: Council convened a statutory public meeting for Zoning By-law Amendment No.
Meeting Recap
4.a Official Plan Amendment (OPA) No. 14 - Official Plan Update (Section
The City Clerk announced public meetings were held under Section 26 of the Planning Act to gather input for Official Plan Amendment No. 14. Council reviewed policies concerning institutional lands, employment designations, and retail market study requirements for commercial development. Members debated whether mandatory retail studies remain necessary as downtown functions have evolved toward professional occupations driving external traffic rather than internal circulation. The council discussed raising official plan height limits for accessory buildings from five metres to six metres while clarifying that wind and shadow studies remain optional site plan requirements under provincial review.
5.a Official Plan Amendment (OPA) No. 14 and Zoning By-law Amendment (ZBA)
Council convened a statutory public meeting for Zoning By-law Amendment No. 7 to ensure conformity with the Official Plan and provincial policy. The zoning bylaw amendment consolidates residential zones from five categories into two flexible areas.
8.a By-law No. 2025-126
Council passed By-law Number 2025-126 after Travis Dodd moved the motion which was seconded by Speaker 01.
Links
Read full transcript: https://helpos.ca/transcripts/owen-sound/council-meeting-special/2025-11-24
Agenda page: https://helpos.ca/agendas/owen-sound/council-meeting-special/2025-11-24
Official meeting page: https://pub-owensound.escribemeetings.com/MeetingsCalendarView.aspx/Meeting?Id=5b886e21-478c-4df1-bed1-32c36ebb5876
Original video: https://video.isilive.ca/owensound/New Encoder_Council Meeting - Special_2025-11-24-03-01.mp4