Land Use Planning Services
Thank you for visiting the Planning Services Division
Important Information Re: Planning Services During Covid-19
(Scoll downward for more related information)
During the COVID-19 pandemic the Planning Division offices are not physically open, but the Town continues to provide remote services subject to delays, suspensions, or disruption to service associated with the current COVID-19 crisis. Virtual Meeting are available through Microsoft Teams. Please note Emergency Orders of the Province of Ontario impacting the processing of appeals and Planning Act applications – see links at bottom of the page.
The Town of Collingwood Planning Services division is here to help support the community through the current crisis, to plan for and advance recovery of important community functions, and work toward stabilizing services as the crisis lifts. The intent of the measures set out below is to ensure that the work of the Town continues and residents, stakeholders, and the development industry continue to be well-served under these unique circumstances. Staff will keep the lines of communication open and work with you to advance matters as best as possible.
Staff Availability
Staff are working remotely and will be available via:
- e-mail (preferred method) at planning@collingwood.ca
- by way of the Planning division’s central contact phone number 705-445-1290
- Microsoft Teams Meeting
Meetings
Meetings involving more than two (2) parties:
- Meetings involving more than two parties to discuss planning-related matters including scheduling pre-consultation or preliminary inquiry meetings can be arranged by Microsoft Teams teleconference or telephone conference calls. Please advise if you are able to use Microsoft Teams for this purpose.
- Development Review Teams (Pre-Consultation) Meeting
Receiving and Processing Documentation
Prior to shipping or delivering you must contact planning@collingwood.ca for explicite instructions.
During the closure of our offices, resubmissions for current applications and submissions of new Planning Act applications will continue to be accepted digitally via your electronic link or our electronic share file link. We are not collecting paper copies at this time but may in the future.
In an effort to ensure proper receipt of these submissions you must contact the associated staff Planner managing the file, the Director of Planning (afarr@collingwood.ca), and the Planning Admin staff member are notified in advance of any electronic submission (planning@collingwood.ca ).
Prior to shipping or delivering you must contact planning@collingwood.ca for explicite instructions; however, in most cases we require 2 sets of paper documents couriered and collated into two separate sets to: 1. set of reports to (paper plans maybe required in the future). The Town of Collingwood Public Works Department located at 545 Tenth Line, Collingwood, ON L9Y 0W1
- 1 set of unbound paper documents for Planning Services (paper is not required at the present time but may in the future), and
- 1 set of paper report documents for Engineering Services.
Re-submissions and new applications will be evaluated and circulated as appropriate.
Council and Committees:
Any matters requiring a decision of Council or Committee are being evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please call for more information as required.
Questions
If you have any questions about specific applications or our process during this period, please continue to reach out directly to the Planner assigned to manage your file or the Director of Planning. Staff from other Town departments can also be reached via the preferred method of e-mail or phone if you have any technical questions.
Provincial Government Legislative changes:
Please be advised of the following Provincial Government Legislative changes related to the Covid 19 crisis that impact process of the appeals and Planning Act Applications
- Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, Ontario Regulation 73/20, Order Under Subsection 7.1 (2) of the Act
- Local Planning Appeal Tribunals https://elto.gov.on.ca/tribunals/lpat/about-lpat/
The Purpose of Land Use Planning
The planning department provides services regarding the Official Plan and Zoning By-law (including zoning compliance reports) documents for the Town of Collingwood, exercising control over the subdivision of land, and indirectly by providing municipal services and pursuing municipal policies which support and reinforce the land use planning objectives of the Municipality and County of Simcoe. Below are links to our over-arching policy documents:
Town of Collingwood Official Plan Consolidated January 2019 version
The Forward including Appeal Dispositions, Non-Decision disposition status, and Specific Amendments, are here.
The complete text including the interactive contents page is here.
Here are the Site Specific Amendments yet to be Consolidated into the 2019 Version:
OPA #43 360 Raglan Feb 7, 2020, OPA#44 Balmoral Blocks 1 - 4 March 6 2020
The Town of Collingwood Zoning By-Law, and
(please scroll further down for more)
The planning department is located in The Municipal Offices located at 55 Ste. Marie Street. Please access the office via the rear doors of the building. We can be reached at 705 445 1290 or email us at planning@collingwood.ca
Contact Planning Services prior to the building department to discover how our Zoning By-law controls the use of land in our community. It states exactly: • how land may be used • where buildings and other structures can be located in relation to lot set backs • 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. Here is a link to A Citizens' Guide and Zoning By-Laws.
The planning services department guides, regulates and makes recommendations regarding community growth and development in a manner that protects the environment, enhances quality of life, promotes a complete community and involves the public in the decisions that affect them.
The planning department accepts, on behalf of Council, applications for changes to land use and coordinates the review and approval process within a prescribed time frame. Our applications are located on this site.
Comments: The comments above are made to the best of our knowledge using all of the information and resources available at the posting time. The information contained herein is believed to be correct, however, the Town assumes no liability for negligence, inaccuracies or omissions. You are welcome to make a personal examination of the applicable information by request via microsoft teams or requesting more information from planning@collingwood.ca
Planning Act: Individuals who make written submissions with respect to a Planning Act application should be aware that their submission and any personal information in their correspondence will become part of the public record and made available to the Applicant, Committee and Council.
- Urban Design Submission Terms of Reference Oct 2020
- Urban Design Manual
- Committee of Adjustment
- Updated Planting Development Details in addition to Development Standards
- Related Bylaws
- Active Transportation
- Industrial Land Use Strategy
- Impact Analysis Retail Marketing
- Commercial Policy Review
- Clayton Market Study
Application Fees:
Our flat fee is non-refundable and payable upon submission of the application. Consult the Treasury Departments landing page for the current Fees & Charges https://www.collingwood.ca/council-government/budget-taxes/fees-charges
Town of Collingwood Official Plan Consolidated January 2019 version
The Town of Collingwood is updating its Official Plan.
For more information please check the project web page engage.collingwood.ca/official-plan
Or contact: officialplanupdate@collingwood.ca 705-445-1290
The Forward including Appeal Dispositions, Non-Decision disposition status, and up to 2019 Specific Amendments, are here.
Here are the Site Specific Amendments yet to be Consolidated into the 2019 Version:
OPA #43 360 Raglan Feb 7, 2020, OPA#44 Balmoral Blocks 1 - 4 March 6 2020
The complete text including the interactive contents page is here. The various schedules can be downloaded separately:
- A: Land Use Plan Map
- A1: The Shipyards Land Use Plan Map
- A2: Land Use Plan Detail
- B: Environmental Protection Map
- B1: Black Ash Creek Special Policy Area Map
- C: Residential Density Plan Map
- D: Transportation Plan Map
- D1: Collingwood Trail System Map
- E: Municipal Services Areas Map
- E1: Municipal Water and Sewage Services Map
- F: Urban Structure
The Official Plan establishes goals, objectives, land use, transportation, servicing and community improvement policies to direct the physical growth of the Town of Collingwood, within a context of relevant social, economic and environmental constraints, in order to obtain the most desirable living environment for present and future residents, and those citizens from the surrounding area who are utilizing the regional facilities within the Town.
It is intended that the Plan serve as a guide to the municipality in preparing and implementing zoning criteria, undertaking public works and/or community improvements, assessing the propriety of development applications, including Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments, minor variances, consent applications, site plan control applications, and plans of subdivision/condominium.
The Official Plan establishes the general pattern for future growth to the year 2021. Its purpose is to ensure the best form of development under the most desirable conditions.
Basis of the Plan
This Official Plan is based upon a series of detailed planning, environmental, economic and servicing studies commissioned by the Town of Collingwood, as well as comments received from the general public, the County of Simcoe and other municipalities, County and Provincial Ministries, agencies and departments. The background studies, which preceded the adoption of the updated Official Plan focused on Collingwood’s natural environment, servicing and transportation circumstances, and residential, commercial, industrial and recreational land needs.
On Monday April 12, 2010 the Council of the Town of Collingwood adopted an updated Collingwood Zoning By-law No. 2010-040.
The following items link to PDF files of the Collingwood Zoning By-law documents.
Instructions:
- To search the text while in the PDF document, make use of the contents page which comes after the two opening pages, use the keys " cntrl F" to open a search dialogue box in the upper right hand corner. Enter search information.
- The zoning maps must be printed on 11x17 in colour to be ledgible. On the print dialogue page check "choose paper source by PDF page size" to print the correct size and orientation.
The Collingwood Zoning By-law implements the land-use policies of the Town’s Official Plan, as amended, and is one of the principal documents used to ensure the proper and orderly development of the municipality. The Collingwood Zoning By-law pertains to all lands within the boundaries of the Town.
The Collingwood Zoning By-law is used by the Town to regulate the use of land and the erection, location and use of buildings within the municipality. The Collingwood Zoning By-law is divided into various sections such as administration, zone classifications and maps, defined terms, general provisions, parking and loading provisions, zone permitted uses and lot provisions, exception zones and zoning maps.
The Collingwood Zoning By-law repealed and replaced all previous zoning by-laws and amendments thereto, within the Town. This included the repealing of the Town of Collingwood Zoning By-law No. 87-61, as amended, the former Township of Nottawasaga Zoning By-law No. 10-93, as amended, and the former Township of Nottawasaga Zoning By-law No. 10-80, as amended.
The Collingwood Zoning By-law was subject to variousappeals that have either been subsequently resolved, or that remain before the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). On June 30th, 2010 the OMB made an Order providing that By-law No. 2010-040 of the Town of Collingwood, save and except for the appealed portions/provisions of said by-law, shall be deemed to have come into force on April 12th, 2010.
For the appealed portions/provisions, the more restrictive provisions between the applicable former Zoning By-law and the Collingwood Zoning By-law No. 2010-040, shall apply.
Please use your printer dialogue settings to choose ledger sized paper.
Proposed Developments Map
Development Activity Map
Development Activity Maps
- 2013 Development Activity Map
- 2014 Development Activity Map
- 2016 Development Activity Map
- 2017 Development Activity Map
- 2018 Development Activity Map
- 2019 Development Activity Map
- 2020 Development Activity Map
Subdivision Activity Maps
Development Review Documents
Urban Design
Official Plan Forward, Official Plan , Official Plan Schedules
Zoning By-Law
Pre-Consultation By-Law
Urban Design Manual
Updated Planting Details
A Place to Grow
Planning Services has a development team that meets every three weeks to process proposed development applications.
The Municipal Act authorized a municipality to adopt Site Plan Control .
Therefore The Town of Collingwood Site Plan Control By-Law No. 2010-082 pertains to certain lands within our municipal boundaries and The Official Plan designates all lands within the Town of Collingwood as a Site Plan Control area.
Site plan control is administered by Planning Services
Site plan control gives our municipality detailed control of how a particular property is developed and allows municipalities to regulate the various features on the site. Council can designate areas of site plan control, in which case developers must submit plans and drawings for approval before undertaking development. Site plan control can regulate certain external building, site and boulevard design matters (for example, character, scale, appearance, streetscape design). Further, we require a site plan agreement with a developer which will be registered on title of the subject property. The agreement will set out details, but not limited to, such as parking areas, elevations and grades, landscaping, building plans and services. The agreement will be registered on title and must be complied with by the owner and all subsequent owners.
Your development may or may not be subject to Development Charges for sanitary sewers and water servicing, may apply as per By-law No. 2014-032 which is administered by the Treasury Department.
Please contact the Building Department to understand if your development is subject to Town Development Charges By-law, Simcoe County Development Charges, Education Levy, or the Black Ash Creek Special Policy Charges. Building Services has an e-Permit Service which allows you to submit your building permit electronically . The Building Department will also administers the Street Naming Policy and Civic Addressng By-Law 2014-028 which in on the website. Please contact Building Department at building@collingwood.ca
Short Term Accomodation is allowed within home occupation when the provisions for a Bed and Breakfast are met. The Collingwood Zoning By-Law speaks to the provisions (regulations) required to offer temporary lodging for less than 30 consecutive calendar days or less, throughout all or any part of a calendar day.
The attached pertinent pages are from The Collingwood Zoning By-Law. These pages are the definition of a legal Bed and Breakfast and short-term accommodation within Collingwood.
Also included are the provisions (regulations) which shall be followed to create a legal Bed and Breakfast (Section 4.25) and Home Occupation (Section 4.39).
If the home-owner fufills these provisions you will need to receive a Change of Use from the Building Department. Here is a bulletin created by the Chief Building Official.
In most cases, location of private property lines, survey stakes, and dealing with related matters are not a Town of Collingwood responsibility. Property owners are responsible for their property lines, including when building fences or additions. Property owners may wish to consult with a lawyer or surveyor.
The County of Simcoe has a tool that lets you look up your address, use measurement tools, and locate property lines. https://maps.simcoe.ca/public