Site Plan Control

Site Plan Control for new, larger, and/or complex developments will help to ensure that your project in the City of Kenora is well-designed, fits within the surrounding uses, has adequate servicing, and any negative impacts are minimized.

Site Plan Control Application

View the application fees.

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.

City planning staff will complete a review of plans and studies submitted with your site plan control application to determine if it qualifies for site plan approval. External agencies and the public help inform staff's decision to approve, modify or refuse an application for site plan control.

Site plan sketch

You must submit a site plan sketch as part of each planning application. The sketch or site plan must clearly demonstrate:

• The boundaries and dimensions of the subject land
• The location, size and type of all existing and proposed buildings and structures on the subject land, including the distance of the buildings or structures from the front yard lot line, rear yard lot line and the side yard lot lines
• The approximate location of all natural and artificial features on the subject land and on land that is beside the subject land that, in your opinion, may affect your application (e.g. buildings, roads, watercourses, wetlands, septic tanks, etc.)
• The current uses on land that is beside the subject property
• The location, width and name of any roads within or beside the subject lands, indicating if it is an unopened road allowance, a public travelled road, or right-of-way
• Location of parking and docking facilities to be used, if access is by water only
• The location and nature of any easement affecting the subject land

Site plan control application process

After you've attended a pre-consultation meeting and submit the application, we will review the application and make a decision using the following process.

Development application review

Reviewing site plan control applications involves many individuals including planners, engineers, technical experts, and external agencies. There is no mandatory public consultation associated with this process.

Decision-making

City Council has delegated City staff the authority to grant site plan approval. In accordance with the Site Plan Control By-law, you will enter into an agreement or letter of undertaking with the City. As part of the Agreement, you will provide a development cost estimate to the City so that financial securities can be calculated. Securities are held by the City to ensure that construction is completed in accordance with approved plans. After construction is complete, your development will be inspected by staff for compliance. Securities will be released if the built project complies with the approved plans.

Appeal period

Under the Planning Act, only the applicant can appeal a site plan control application decision. All appeals are heard by the Ontario Land Tribunal. Once a site plan control application is approved, the next step is for you to apply for a building permit.

Site plan control exemptions

Some developments are exempt from site plan control. Consult the Site Plan Control By-law to determine if your development is exempt from approval and, if not, what type of site plan application is required. Contact the Planning Division to confirm that site plan approval is not required.

In general, the following developments may be exempt from approval if the property location, land use, and parking count comply with the Site Plan Control By-law:

• A residential building containing ten (10) or fewer dwelling units
• Developments in rural areas outside of the City of Kenora’s designated urban Settlement Area, unless located in close proximity to an Environmental Area such as Black Sturgeon Lake or other lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands (please consult with the Planning Department for confirmation).
• A bed and breakfast with not more than 4 guest bedroom or building or structure accessories
• A group home that accommodates 10 or fewer people not including staff, within one building
• A building or structure accessory to a non-residential use if the gross floor area of the accessory building or structure is less than 10 square metres
• Interior building alterations which do not involve a change in major occupancy as defined by the Ontario Building Code
• Works which result from the requirements of the Fire Marshall's Act or an Order issued by the Corporations Fire Department
• Signs that are not erected as part of a commercial development, and temporary construction buildings placed in accordance with any applicable By-law
• A utility installation having a gross floor area of less than 10 square metres
• Private swimming pool, deck, landscaping, site works including driveways, or outdoor recreational structure on the same site and serving the residents of an associated development.

Any change to the public parking area in a commercial parking lot necessary to provide accessible parking or an authorized sign required by By-law, provided that the change is accommodated within an area of the public parking area used for the parking of motor vehicles or vehicular access to an area used for the parking of motor vehicles.

Any change to the following developments do not require site plan approval:

• Bed and breakfast with no more than 4 guest bedrooms
• Group home that accommodates 10 or less people not including staff, within one building
• Involving a swimming pool, deck, landscaping, site works including driveways, or an outdoor recreational structure that serves the development.

Types of standards or requirements

The following standards or requirements may be requested pursuant to Section 41 of the Planning Act:

• Easements
• Road widening
• Entrances
• Road improvements
• Other requirements
• Test manholes
• Fire flows
• Downstream drainage improvements
• Contributions towards sidewalks
• Storm water management studies
• Traffic impact studies
• Updating of street as-builts

Frequently asked questions

View the following frequently asked questions to learn more about the site plan control process.

How long do I have to complete all the site work that is outlined in the registered site plan control agreement?

In every agreement, there is a clause noting the time frame set to complete all the site work. Depending on the individual circumstances, the site work may need to be completed either ‘within two years of the issuance of any building permit' or ‘two years after the execution of the agreement.'

What happens once all the site work has been completed?

Upon acknowledgement from you or your agent that all the conditions outlined in the registered site plan agreement have been completed, the agencies that were originally asked to provide comments are asked to conduct inspections. When the agencies are satisfied that the site has been developed to their satisfaction, the City's Finance Department is then directed to release the securities (with the exception of money that was collected for road improvements, etc.) Even though the site work has been completed and deposits returned, the agreement will remain on title at the registry office in perpetuity. You, as the owner of the property, are responsible for maintaining the site in accordance with the registered agreement.

At what stage will a building permit be issued?

Once the site plan control agreement has been registered, securities are collected, and any condition within your site plan control agreement that is noted to be fulfilled ‘prior to the issuance of a building permit has been complied with, a letter of clearance will be given to the Building Division. At that time, provided that all other approvals for the building permit have been obtained, a building permit may then be issued. The development of your property must proceed in compliance with the registered site plan control agreement.

Can I begin construction before the site plan control agreement is registered?

The Ontario Building Code Act, Section 8(3) does allow construction to begin before the site plan control agreement is completed. The “conditional building permit”, which allows for this is typically issued provided that: At least one circulation of your site plan has been undertaken with associated comments received; and You enter into a legal agreement with the City that formalizes your undertaking to complete the site plan control agreement within a reasonably prescribed time frame.