Back to SearchTo inform the public of an Official Plan Review, pursuant to subsection 26(3)(b) of the Planning Act.
The City of St. Catharines has initiated a review and update of its Official Plan (known as the “Garden City Plan”). The purpose of the Official Plan Review is to ensure the Garden City Plan is consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement 2024 (PPS 2024) and conforms to applicable Provincial land use plans. It is also to consolidate the policies of the Niagara Official Plan (NOP) with the Garden City Plan and to incorporate revisions identified though the City’s continuous monitoring of the Garden City Plan.
The special meeting is a preliminary opportunity to discuss the revisions that may be required to the Garden City Plan. No draft policy documents have been prepared for this meeting. There will be a future Open House and Public Meeting that will provide opportunities for the public to review draft policy documents and to provide additional comments to staff, City Council and the approval authority (“Minister”). Draft policy documents, when available, will be posted at the link below and can be found at the Planning and Building Services in City Hall.
An information video, timeline and reference materials are available at engagestc.ca/updatethegcp.
A key map is not included on this notice, as the Official Plan Update is applicable to all land within the municipal boundaries of the City of St. Catharines.
Special Meeting
City Council is hosting a Special Meeting on April 13, 2026, to provide members of the public an opportunity to provide comments and discuss the revisions that may be required to the current Garden City Plan.
Details of the legislated Special Meeting
Visit stcatharines.ca/Council for information on how to access and participate in the meeting, and how to request and make a delegation before Council.
Written submissions must be received by noon Thursday, April 9 before the special meeting by mailing or delivering them to:
City of St. Catharines Legal and Clerk Services/City’s Clerks Division, City Hall, 50 Church Street, P.O. Box 3012, St. Catharines, ON, L2R7C2.
Refer to File No. 26 102370 OP
Email submissions may also be made by noon the day of the special meeting and directed to clerks@stcatharines.ca. Comments submitted will be considered by staff, City Council and approval authority (“Minister”) in the Official Plan review and update process.
Legal Notice
i. If a person or public body would otherwise have an ability to appeal the decision of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (“Minister”) to the Ontario Land Tribunal but the person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to Council of the City of St. Catharines before the proposed official plan is adopted, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision.
ii. If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to Council of the City of St. Catharines before the proposed official plan is adopted, the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Land Tribunal unless, in the opinion of the Tribunal, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public body as a party.
If you wish to be notified of the decision of the Corporation of the City of St. Catharines on the Official Plan, you must make a written request to:
City of St. Catharines Legal and Clerk Services / City’s Clerks Division, City Hall, 50 Church Street, P.O. Box 3012, St. Catharines, ON, L2R7C2.
Refer to File No. 26 102370 OP
The Minister’s decision on the Official Plan is not capable of being appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, pursuant to subsection 17(36.5) and 21(3) of the Planning Act.
Contact
For more information about this matter, including information about appeal rights, contact Claire Semple, Planner, Planning and Building Services Department at 905.688.5601, ext. 1730, via email at csemple@stcatharines.ca or the City’s TTY number (text telephone) at 711.
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