Planning Rationale

A planning rationale must accompany each planning application you submit to the City of Kenora Planning Division. This is a document that provides an overall planning description of your application and includes the reasons why it should be approved.

Pre-consultation

Before filing an application, it is recommended that you contact the Planning team to set up a pre-consultation meeting. During the meeting, we will outline what you need to include in your application, including the planning rationale.

Purpose of a planning rationale

It is meant to help you organize and provide written support for your development application. The document also helps City staff and the approval authorities, Kenora Planning Advisory Committee or Council, in the assessment and recommendation for your application.

It is not intended to be a personal analysis or business case for your proposed development.

A planning rationale should:

• provide a clear description and understanding of your proposal
• assist staff in reviewing your proposal and assist in the City's assessment and recommendations on your application
• provide an early opportunity for you to establish why your proposal should be considered and approved
• highlight information that is specific or particular to your proposal (e.g., special history, different circumstances)
• establish how your proposal conforms to the policies of the City of Kenora Official Plan and is consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement

Preparing a planning rationale

As the applicant, you can prepare the planning rationale for your proposal. However, the benefits of hiring a Registered Professional Planner or equivalent qualified person can be significant in presenting your proposal in its best form. Hiring a professional can save you money and time.

What you should include

A planning rationale addresses the points identified in your pre-consultation meeting. If you fail to address critical elements identified in the pre-consultation meeting, your application may be considered incomplete.

The following are main points that you must address:

• A physical description of the site, including explanations of current land use(s) and surrounding land use(s), context, and/or built form
• A description of the site's planning history, including previous planning approvals and/or agreements (e.g., site plan agreement, site-specific zoning by-laws etc.)
• A description and summary of your proposal, including any major features or attributes, such as use, height, density, parking, design, natural heritage features, etc.

You should also include reasons why the development is appropriate for the site and how it will function to meet the needs of future users:

• An analysis of the compatibility of your proposed development or land use designation with existing neighbouring developments and land use designations
• Details of any measures that will be used to mitigate negative impacts (such as site plan control)
• What the impact of your proposed development will have on municipal services (e.g., sewage collection and treatment systems, water distribution and treatment systems, utilities, roads, hydro services, parking, community facilities, parks, and open spaces, etc.)
• Whether there are any other planning approvals that are required and whether or not they have been applied for such as Official Plan or Zoning By-law amendment, site plan control agreement, minor variance, etc.