Discretionary Use Proposal 

A Discretionary Use application has been submitted from Realscapes Investments Inc. requesting approval to develop a short-term rental property at 320 Hugo Avenue in the Varsity View neighbourhood. The property will accommodate up to six guests at any one time for 30 days or less. One off street parking stall is required. No construction or alterations are proposed as part of the application. 

This site is zoned R2 – One and Two-Unit Residential District under Bylaw No. 8770, The City of Saskatoon Zoning Bylaw. The purpose of the R2 District is provide for development in the form of one and two-unit dwellings as well as related community uses. A short-term rental property is considered a Discretionary Use in the R2 District. 

Location Map

Provide Feedback

Questions and comments on this proposal are invited at this time by contacting

Tanner Halonen, Planner
tanner.halonen@saskatoon.ca 
306-986-3699

Appropriate alternatives to public information meetings are being evaluated in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the response to this proposal, next steps in the engagement process will be determined. 

What is a Discretionary Use? 

All property in the City of Saskatoon is assigned a zoning designation.  Within each zoning designation, specific land uses are either permitted, prohibited, or discretionary.  A Discretionary Use is a land use that is generally consistent with the permitted uses in a zoning district.  As per Section 4.7.2(1) of the Zoning Bylaw, a Discretionary Use may be allowed either at the discretion of City Council or City Administration.  Either approving authority can approve, approve with conditions, or deny a Discretionary Use application.  Approval for a short-term rental property in the R2 District is delegated to City Administration.

The Planning and Development Division evaluates Discretionary Use applications on a case-by-case basis considering the site itself, as well the surrounding context including nearby land uses.

A Discretionary Use approval is applied to a specific site, not the applicant.  Any change in size or intensity of the use approved would require a new Discretionary Use application.

What is Short Term-Rental Property?

The Zoning Bylaw defines a short term-rental property as "a dwelling which is not the principal residence of the host, but is used to provide rental accommodations to guests for tenancies of less than 30 days.”

Process

When a Discretionary Use application for a short term rental property is received by the City it is reviewed for compliance with regulations that are in place to minimize any impact to the residential characteristics of the neighbourhood. This includes:

• Maximum of 6 guests;
• At least one off-street parking stall for guests;
• Compliance with life-safety requirements;
• Permission of property owner (when applicable); and
• Permission of condominium corporation (when applicable).

Once the application has been reviewed, public consultation on the application is undertaken.  Registered property owners typically within 75 to 150 metres of the subject site and the Ward Councillor are notified of the proposed Discretionary Use application as per the City’s Public Notice Policy.  When considered necessary, a public information meeting may be held to provide information to area residents on the Discretionary Use application, answer questions, and receive feedback.

Information collected from the internal review and public consultation processes will be considered by City Administration.  The application may then be approved, approved with conditions, or denied.

Decision 

City Administration approved the Discretionary Use Application submitted by Realescapes Investments Inc. to operate a short-term rental property at 320 Hugo Avenue, subject to the following conditions:

1.  The applicant obtains all relevant licenses (such as a Business License) 

2.  The one required surfaced parking space located in the rear yard must be hard-surfaced as per Section 6 of the Zoning Bylaw