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Parkland Dedication By-law

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Consultation has concluded

In 2022, the City initiated an update to the existing Parkland Dedication By-law. The update was the result of recent legislation changes.

What is Parkland Dedication?

Parkland Dedication is a tool enabled by the Planning Act that allows municipalities to fund the growth-related costs of land for parks and other recreational purposes.

This ensures that residents in growing communities will continue to have access to parks and green space.

The preparation of a Parks Plan must be undertaken before passing a by-law which includes the alternative residential rate.

Parks Plan

This Parks Plan provides a modern framework to support decisions related to the number of parks in the City of Sarnia, including parkland dedication and acquisition tools. Updated policies and practices are needed to respond to the City's evolving urban structure and growth forecasts (including nearly 15,000 additional residents by 2046) and to reflect changes to the legislative requirements on parkland dedication.

The Parks Plan focuses on "active parkland," typically consisting of tableland suitable for recreational amenities such as sports fields, playgrounds, courts, gardens, etc. This type of parkland has traditionally been conveyed to the City through the land development process.

Proposed Parkland Dedication By-law

The proposed Parkland Dedication By-law maintains the City's current 5% dedication requirement on residential development and 2% on commercial and industrial development. In addition, it enables:

  • For parkland dedication, the use of alternative rates for residential development (where the alternative rate provides for more dedication);
  • For cash-in-lieu of parkland dedication, the use of alternative rates (the value is one (1) hectare of land for each 1,000 net residential units) where the alternative rate provides more payment-in-lieu than the 5% rate. 

Any comments on the proposed Parkland Dedication By-law may be submitted to planning@sarnia.ca.

In 2022, the City initiated an update to the existing Parkland Dedication By-law. The update was the result of recent legislation changes.

What is Parkland Dedication?

Parkland Dedication is a tool enabled by the Planning Act that allows municipalities to fund the growth-related costs of land for parks and other recreational purposes.

This ensures that residents in growing communities will continue to have access to parks and green space.

The preparation of a Parks Plan must be undertaken before passing a by-law which includes the alternative residential rate.

Parks Plan

This Parks Plan provides a modern framework to support decisions related to the number of parks in the City of Sarnia, including parkland dedication and acquisition tools. Updated policies and practices are needed to respond to the City's evolving urban structure and growth forecasts (including nearly 15,000 additional residents by 2046) and to reflect changes to the legislative requirements on parkland dedication.

The Parks Plan focuses on "active parkland," typically consisting of tableland suitable for recreational amenities such as sports fields, playgrounds, courts, gardens, etc. This type of parkland has traditionally been conveyed to the City through the land development process.

Proposed Parkland Dedication By-law

The proposed Parkland Dedication By-law maintains the City's current 5% dedication requirement on residential development and 2% on commercial and industrial development. In addition, it enables:

  • For parkland dedication, the use of alternative rates for residential development (where the alternative rate provides for more dedication);
  • For cash-in-lieu of parkland dedication, the use of alternative rates (the value is one (1) hectare of land for each 1,000 net residential units) where the alternative rate provides more payment-in-lieu than the 5% rate. 

Any comments on the proposed Parkland Dedication By-law may be submitted to planning@sarnia.ca.

Consultation has concluded

  • Notice of Passing

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    TAKE NOTICE that the Council of The Corporation of the City of Sarnia passed Parkland Dedication By-law No. 26 of 2024 on the 18th day of March 2024 under section 42 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended;

    AND TAKE NOTICE that any person or organization may appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal under section 42 (4.9) of the Planning Act, in respect of the Parkland Dedication By-law, by filing with the Clerk of the municipality of the City of Sarnia on or before the 27th day of April 2024, a notice of appeal setting out the objection to the by-law and the reasons supporting the objection.

    Parkland Dedication By-law

    The Parkland Dedication By-law includes provisions allowing the City to require land conveyances and the payment of cash-in-lieu for park or other public recreational purposes as conditions for the development or redevelopment of land.

    The Parkland Dedication By-law applies to all lands within the municipal boundary of the City of Sarnia; therefore, a key map has not been provided. The Parkland Dedication By-law provides for the following:

    • 5% land or payment in lieu of land for residential and uses;
    • 2% land or payment in lieu of land for commercial and industrial uses;
    • using the alternative rate for dedication, where the alternative rate provides for more dedication than the 5% rate; and
    • using the alternative rate for payment in lieu, where the alternative rate provides for more payment-in-lieu than the 5% rate.

    Parkland dedication is calculated and collected prior to final approval of an application for site plan approval, consent to sever, plan of subdivision, or plan of condominium, for eligible development or redevelopment. Payments in lieu of land are based on the appraised value of the land being developed.

    A copy of the complete by-law is available for examination at The Corporation of the City of Sarnia offices, 255 Christina St N, Sarnia, ON N7T 7N2, during regular business hours (weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) excluding statutory holidays or on the City’s website at https://www.speakupsarnia.ca/parkland-dedication-by-law.

    DATED, this 28th day of March 2024.

    Eric Hyatt

    Manager of Planning & Development Services