Overview of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law review project, community profile, planned policy overview, existing vacant land supply, and "As We Heard It" engagement report.
Official Plan and Zoning By-Law Update
Official Plans and Comprehensive Zoning By-Laws guide and dictate the use of land and building of structures in your municipality. They are required by Provincial legislation, but can be shaped by community preferences.
The Municipality of Red Lake is reviewing the Official Plan (OP) and Comprehensive Zoning By-Law (ZBL), which were approved in 2015. The review process will result in a new OP and ZBL for the community; and consider potential development over the next 20 years!
Special Council Meeting held on March 23, 2026
A Special Council Meeting pursuant to the requirements of 26(3) of the Planning Act, RSO 1990, as amended, was held on March 23, 2026. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss revisions that may be required as part of a proposed update to the Municipality’s Official Plan. For those who were unable to attend the meeting, the presentation can be viewed online using the following link: Official Plan and Zoning By-Law Presentation
The Final Official Plan Policy Directions and Zoning Recommendations Report (April 2026) has been prepared to incorporate feedback received at the Special Meeting, and can be viewed online at the following link: Official Plan and Zoning By-Law Recommendations. The report identifies the proposed recommendations for key policy and Schedule (i.e., map) changes to the Municipality’s Official Plan. The proposed recommendations are based on the 2024 Provincial Planning Statement, recent legislation, and local values identified through engagement activities undertaken in Fall 2025 for the project, as well as feedback received at the Special Council Meeting in March 2026.
The Municipality, in coordination with their consultant, WSP, will be moving forward with preparation of the Draft Official Plan. The Draft Official Plan and Schedules are anticipated to be presented to the community at a Statutory Public Open House later this year.
PROJECT UPDATES
The Municipality would like to thank the members of the public who attended the Public Open House held at the Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre on November 6, 2025. The Background Report has been finalized and includes an "As We Heard It" report, which summarizes the engagement activities held in Fall 2025. This includes feedback received through the questionnaire, survey and Public Open House. The input received will assist the project team in developing a new vision and priorities for the Municipality's new Official Plan.
The project team will be proceeding with preparing the Draft Official Plan Policy Directions and Zoning Recommendations Report, which will propose detailed recommendations for updates to the Municipality's Official Plan and Zoning By-law. This report will be presented to Council and the community at a Special Meeting as required under the Planning Act. This meeting is expected to be held in Winter 2026.
Project Work Plan
The following graphic illustrates the proposed work plan and timeline for the Municipality's Official Plan and Zoning By-law Review:
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The purpose of an Official Plan is to establish a vision, guiding principles, objectives, and policies to manage and direct physical development in the Municipality
The purpose of a Zoning By-Law is to set out rules to tell us how land in the community can be used
The Corporation of the Municipality of Red Lake
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P.O. Box 1000
Balmertown, ON, P0V 1C0
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