New zoning bylaw will ‘set the stage’ for a growing Fort Erie

With a new official plan now in place, its companion piece of local planning policy is nearing an update.

Staff and consultants are planning to present a draft updated zoning bylaw to council this fall, with a goal of having it approved early in 2027 as a new term of council gets going. The new bylaw seeks to modernize the more than 40-year-old existing document, and streamline the definitions and exemptions in place. It’ll also bring it in line with the new official plan.

Mayor Wayne Redekop called it an extremely important review.

“It’s going to set the stage for the next many number of years,” he said on Monday night.

“We need to make sure that we get this right and we need to make sure the policies will do the things we’ve been trying to do, which is protect the existing neighbourhoods, our natural heritage, (and) our waterfront. But also find ways we can provide housing options that will be more affordable and attainable to people who live here.”

A presentation by consultant Robert Rappolt, manager of urban and community planning with WSP Canada, outlined some of the major goals and themes of the review, as expressed by the community.

Those priorities include a “clear and efficient zoning framework that introduces right amount of flexibility,” providing housing and complete communities, environmental and agricultural stewardship, modernized land use, parking and transportation standards, and serviceable and sustainable growth.

“The overall intent of this exercise is to bring forward a streamlined zoning regime for the town that is contemporary, reflects modern zoning practices, and makes it easier, frankly, for both the Town to administer the zoning bylaw and for landowners and those interested in developing their lands, and the broader community, to work with this document over time,” he said.

While the consultants will continue to welcome feedback from the public and councillors as they prepare the draft bylaw, councillors identified parking, heritage, and affordable and attainable housing as priorities.

Councillor Ann-Marie Noyes summarized an issue staff and councillors face on a regular basis when developments come forward.

“There’s never enough parking for the residents and always too much requirement for the developers,” she said.

Rappolt said while the broad trend in Ontario is to move towards lower parking requirements in developments, the unique characteristics of municipalities are factored in when they review planning documents.

Councillors pointed out Fort Erie’s limited public transportation options, geography, and largely rural demographics changes the equation when it comes to parking requirements.

While councillors outlined some of their own priorities, they also expressed some concern with the lack of public feedback received so far.

With such an important planning document that will play a big role in guiding how Fort Erie evolves in the coming years and decades, Redekop said he’d like to see as much input as possible. And if people weren’t going to come to the consultants, he suggested perhaps they go search out the residents.

As the Town develops a new zoning bylaw it’s also developing a community permit planning system (CPPS), which offers a new, streamlined development process for several strategic growth areas in Fort Erie. While the CPPS will govern development in those strategic areas, the zoning bylaw will continue to be used for lands outside those areas.

Once the draft zoning bylaw is released this fall, a public open house process will ensue. Consultants will revise the draft based on feedback, with a plan to present it for adoption in early 2027.

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