Saskatoon Dawah and Community Centre has applied to amend the existing Zoning Agreement for 1236 20th Street West, located in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood. This property is the location of the former St. George's Parish Hall.

Existing Zoning Agreement

The subject property is currently zoned M3 – General Institutional Service District, subject to a Zoning Agreement that was approved by City Council in 2014.  A Zoning Agreement is a legal agreement that establishes site-specific regulations for how a property may be developed and used. 

The existing Zoning Agreement provides for use of the property as a community centre, day care centre, and offices limited to those where clients attending the subject property are incidental and secondary to the principal office use.

Request to Amend Zoning Agreement

Saskatoon Dawah and Community Centre has requested to amend the Zoning Agreement to permit the following additional land uses on the property:

• Place of worship
• Independent school (proposed capacity: 40 students)

The Zoning Bylaw defines a “place of worship” as “a place used for worship and related religious, philanthropic or social activities and includes accessory rectories, manses, meeting rooms and other buildings. Typical uses include churches, chapels, mosques, temples, synagogues and parish halls.”

An "independent school" is defined as "a facility which meets Provincial requirements for education or training and which does not secure the majority of its funding from taxation or any governmental agency and may include vocational schools."

The land uses already permitted in the existing Zoning Agreement are proposed to remain, with all uses to be located within the existing building along with fenced outdoor play area and parking included on the site. The proposed capacity of the day care centre is 32 children. 

What is a Zoning Agreement?

All property in the City of Saskatoon is assigned a zoning designation under Zoning Bylaw No. 9990.  Within each zoning designation, specific land uses and forms of development are either permitted, discretionary, or prohibited.

In some instances, a regulatory tool called a Zoning Agreement may be used to accommodate a specific development proposal.  A Zoning Agreement is a binding legal agreement that, once approved by City Council, is tied to the land and ensures that only the specific development proposal put forward by the applicant can be constructed on the property.  It may specify permitted uses of the land and standards respecting building form, scale, and site layout, among other considerations. 

In order to amend a Zoning Agreement, an application and review process is required that includes technical review, public engagement, and a decision by City Council at a Public Hearing upon the conclusion of the process.

Application Process

1. Review by City Departments: When an application to amend a Zoning Agreement is received, the Planning and Development team checks if it follows the City's Official Community Plan, Zoning Bylaw and other rules. They also send it to other city departments to look at the technical details, such as if the water, wastewater, stormwater and transportation systems can support the proposal.
2. Public Engagement: After the internal review by the City, the public gets a chance to look at the proposal, ask questions and give feedback. Property owners within 75-150 meters of the site, the Community Association and the Ward Councillor are notified and invited to comment. Sometimes, a public meeting is held where the proposal is presented, and people can ask questions.
3. Report Preparation: Planning and Development writes a report with a recommendation on the application. This report includes feedback from both the internal review and the public.
4. Municipal Planning Commission Review: The report is first reviewed by the Municipal Planning Commission, which advises City Council.
5. City Council Decision: The final decision is made by City Council at a Public Hearing. They consider the report, the recommendation and the feedback from the Municipal Planning Commission. Anyone from the public can submit written comments or speak at the hearing.