Community Development

Official Plan and Zoning By-law

What is an Official Plan?

An Official Plan provides a framework for the land development and growth in a municipality. It sets out the Municipality’s vision, goals, and objectives for the next 20 years.

An Official Plan deals mainly with issues such as:

      1.      Where new housing, industry, offices, and shops will be located

      2.      Where services like roads, watermains, sewers, parks and schools will be needed most

      3.      When, and in what order, parts of your community will grow

      4.      Community improvement initiatives

Why is an Official Plan Important?

      1.      An Official Plan provides an overview of a municipality’s general land use planning policies

      2.      It ensures growth is coordinated and meets the community’s needs

      3.      It helps the community understand how their land may be used now, and in the future

      4.      It directs different types of development to areas where it is most appropriate

      5.      It provides a framework for establishing municipal zoning by-laws

Council for the Village of Burk's Falls has adopted the new Official Plan as of October 18, 2022. The plan was submitted to the Province in April 2022 (approval agency) for input. Council has not received comment to date so the document may change.  However, the Official Plan is a modern long term plan to accommodate both residential and commercial growth. It supports current plans and introduced new procedures such as Development Plan Permitting. The Plan streamlines process and reduces red tape.

The Plan implements Council's goal of smart growth, maintaining a sustainable natural environment, economic vitality and a healthy community.

Official Plan

Official Plan Mapping

Notice of Decision

What is a Comprehensive Zoning By-law?

A Zoning By-law implements the Official Plan policies and objectives to regulate the use of land in a community. It provides a legal way to manage land use and future growth and helps in  preventing conflicting and dangerous land uses.

A Zoning By-law regulates, among other things:

      1.      How land may be used

      2.      Where buildings and other structures can be located

      3.      The types of buildings that are permitted and how they may be used

      4.      The lots sizes and dimensions, parking requirements, building heights and setbacks from the street

Why is a Zoning By-law Important?

      1.      A Zoning By-law implements the objectives and policies of a municipality’s Official Plan

      2.      It provides a legal way of managing land use and future development

      3.      In addition to the Official Plan, it protects you from conflicting and possibly dangerous land uses in your community

The Council for the Village of Burk's Falls has prepared a draft Comprehensive Zoning By-law. There have been two community open houses and one statutory public meeting to incorporate public comments into the draft plan.

Council plans to adopt the new Zoning By-law in 2023. While the Province is not the approval agency for this By-law, it implements the new Official Plan which has not yet been approved by the Province. Drafts of the Zoning By-law are available below. Until they are adopted the General Standards By-law remains in effect.

Updates will be provided in 2023.

Draft Zoning By-law

Draft Zoning Map

If you have any questions, please contact: clerk@burksfalls.ca

Consents and Severances

Applications for consent (severances) and subdivisions are administered by the Southeast Parry Sound District Planning Board.
Hours: Monday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Phone: (705) 787-5070
Email:  lmoyer@sepsdplanningboard.ca

Almaguin Community Economic Development (ACED)

The Almaguin Community Economic Development  (ACED) Department delivers economic development services throughout the Almaguin Highlands Region (formally called the East Parry  Sound District). These services include:

• Business and entrepreneurial support for start-ups, expansions and general needs, including:
• Connecting businesses with support and funding opportunities,
• Site Selection information and local intel,
• Professional network development, and
• many other services as required;
• Marketing and promotion of tourism opportunities, events and local programming;
• Regional economic planning, research and analysis;
• Community development and organization support.

ACED is committed to ensuring the economic and social prosperity of the region. Our objective is to develop our environment by creating and growing strong partnerships between municipalities,  businesses, community groups and local residents.

We’d love to hear from you. Let’s get in touch! ACED