Notice of Adoption and Passing

City Council adopted Official Plan Amendment 17 and passed By-law 286-2024, a Zoning By-law Amendment as they relate to multiple properties city-wide on the 26th day of August 2024.

The Official Plan Amendment is exempt from approval by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the decision of Council is final if a notice of appeal is not received before or on the last day for filing a notice of appeal, September 19, 2024

How to appeal a decision:

Individuals, corporations and public bodies may appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) in respect of the decision and/or By-law by completing the Appeal Form A1 available from the OLT website at and submitting it to the City Clerk no later than the 19th day of September, 2024.

Krista Power, Director of Legislative Services & City Clerk

City Hall, 500 Donald St. E.

Thunder Bay, ON P7E 5V3

The Appeal Form A1 must set out the reasons for appeal, and the specific part of the official plan amendment to which the appeal applies, accompanied by the fee required by the Tribunal ($1100.00, certified cheque or money order payable to the Minister of Finance). 

Purpose and effect of amendment

The purpose of the Official Plan Amendment 17 is to amend the City of Thunder Bay Official Plan, as amended, to increase opportunities for housing intensification within non-residential areas in the Urban Settlement Area.

The effect of the Amendment is policy changes that enable and/or broaden opportunities for residential uses in appropriate locations within the Institutional, Service Commercial, Community Commercial, and Business Area designations. The Amendment also redesignates Institutional land to Residential and Heavy Industrial land to Light Industrial in key areas.

Official Plan Amendment 17 applies only to the lands described in By-law Number 285-2024 and does not affect any other lands. This Official Plan Amendment was approved under Section 17 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended.

Purpose and effect of by-law

The purpose of By-law Number 286-2024 is to amend the City of Thunder Bay Zoning By-law 1-2022, as amended, to implement the Official Plan policy changes and re-designations to allow mid-rise and high-rise residential uses within specific non-residential areas.

The effect of the By-law is permitting and establishing regulations for apartments, care housing, and townhouses in these locations and eliminating new industrial uses from being developed nearby. The By-law also establishes development holding provisions which provide the criteria for residential development at some of these locations. Criteria include land use compatibility studies, archaeological assessments, pedestrian access, and the availability of full municipal services. The By-law also rezones an area of land from the Institutional Zone to the Urban Mixed Use Zone.

This By-law applies only to the lands described in By-law Number 286-2024 and does not affect any other lands. This Zoning By-law Amendment was approved under Section 34 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended.

Additional information

The proposed changes would apply to several land use designations and properties within the City of Thunder Bay. View the complete list of changes including property location maps.

The subject lands are not subject to any other application under the Planning Act at this time.

All comments received were considered as part of Council’s decision-making process. Council has determined that the application is consistent with all relevant planning legislation and represents good planning

The complete By-law is available for inspection at the Office of the City Clerk in City Hall during regular office hours. Please call (807) 625-2230 for more information or to make an appointment.

Right to appeal

Please note that the rights of third parties to appeal decisions to the Ontario Land Tribunal have been restricted under the Planning Act. Only the applicant, the Minister, specified persons, public bodies, and registered owners of lands to which the official plan amendment and/or by-law applies and who made oral submissions at the public meeting or written submissions to the City before the official plan amendment was adopted and/or the by-law was passed, will be able to appeal the decision of the City of Thunder Bay to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Only individuals, corporations or public bodies may appeal a decision of the municipality or planning board to the Ontario Land Tribunal. A notice of appeal may not be filed by an unincorporated association or group.  However, a notice of appeal may be filed in the name of an individual who is a member of the association or the group on its behalf.

No person or public body shall be added as a party to the hearing of the appeal unless, before the official plan amendment was adopted and/or the by-law was passed, the person or public body made oral submissions at a public meeting or written submissions to the council or, in the opinion of the Ontario Land Tribunal, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public body as a party.

Questions?

If you have any questions about this notice or require accessible accommodations or materials, please email Planning Services.