Planning & Zoning

Land use planning helps communities decide where homes and businesses should be built; where parks and schools should be located and where roads and other essential services are needed. Good planning will reduce land use conflicts and manage development that supports a clean, safe and healthy environment and provide economic growth for the long term.

Do you want to learn more about planning or have specific planning questions?

• View the Land Use Planning Citizen Guides

A zoning by-law controls the use of land in your community. It states such things as:

• how land may be used
• where buildings and other structures can be located
• the types of buildings that are permitted and how they may be used
• the lot sizes and dimensions, parking requirements, building heights and setbacks from the street.

Central Temiskaming Planning Area & Official Plan:

An Official Plan describes the policies on how land in your community should be used and helps to ensure that future planning and development will meet the specific needs of your community. For example it determines where new housing, industry, offices and shops will be located, what services will be required, when and in what order or parts of your community will grow.

An Official Plan sets out planning policies and helps all members of your community understand how their land may be used now and in the future . It helps decide where development should occur and services to support that development. It provides a way to evaluate and settle conflicting land uses while meeting local, regional and provincial interests and it also shows council's commitment to the future growth.

Once an official plan is in effect, it guides all of the municipality's planning decisions. It means that:

• the local council and municipal officials must follow the plan
• all new services, sewer or watermains, for example, must conform to the plan
• all by-laws, including zoning and related by-laws, must conform with the official plan.

However, an official plan is not set forever. The plan can be changed or amended as the community's needs change. The plan will also undergo full reviews every 5 years.

Still have a land use or planning related question? Please contact the municipal office and we would be happy to provide further information.