Community Engagement Survey Results

A public survey was open for responses from November 14, 2022, through January 31, 2023, to collect input on the types of nuisances potentially related to heavy industry experienced by residents in various areas of Saskatoon.

Nuisance types of interest included noise, odour, vibration, dust, and outdoor lighting.

588 responses were received in total. Responses determined to be out of scope of the study were removed from further study for this project (e.g., not related to heavy industrial areas, located outside of Saskatoon, etc.). Out of scope survey data was shared with relevant groups as appropriate.

35% of respondents reported not being affected by any nuisance, whereas 65% reported being affected by some nuisance.

Survey responses have been analyzed and mapped out according to respondents' residential area, and two primary groups of nuisances potentially related to heavy industry were identified from the survey results:

• Odour complaints near the North Industrial areas.
• Noise, vibration and dust near the West Industrial area.

For more information, a summary of the survey results can be found here.

Advisory Group

In January 2023 an Industrial-Residential Interface Study Advisory Group (Advisory Group) was formed consisting of heavy industrial representatives and residential representatives. The purpose of the Advisory Group is to:

• Provide advice and support City staff in facilitating engagement with businesses and residents for whom this project may be relevant;
• Build relationships between City staff, heavy industrial businesses and property owners, and residents near heavy industrial areas;
• Provide insight to City staff on existing nuisance conditions and any practices or efforts currently being made or tested to mitigate those nuisances; and,
• Act as a stakeholder group that can assist City staff in considering ideas and proposals.

The project team, with input from the Advisory Group, is currently reviewing other potential methods for targeted data collection to be carried out in 2023.

Cities are made up of a mix of areas, including residential (homes), commercial (stores, restaurants, offices), and industrial (factories, plants, warehouses).

In some cases, heavy industrial land uses close to residential areas might cause nuisances for residents, such as noise, smells, vibrations, dust, or outdoor lighting. Click here for a list of various nuisance types, as well as performance standards and enforcement authority for each.

What is the difference between light industrial and heavy industrial?

Light industrial land use includes industrial businesses that are typically smaller in scale and less intensive than those found in heavy industrial areas. Light industrial operations should not create nuisance conditions for neighbouring properties or residential areas.

In comparison, heavy industrial land use includes larger industrial businesses that are more intensive. The City of Saskatoon Zoning Bylaw states that the purpose of the Heavy Industrial District is to facilitate economic development through industrial activities that may have the potential for creating nuisance conditions during the normal course of operations.

Click here for a map showing heavy industrial areas in Saskatoon.

Industrial-Residential Interface Study

The Industrial-Residential Interface Study was launched primarily due to heavy industrial businesses causing nuisance conditions for residents in nearby areas within the Pleasant Hill, King George, and West Industrial neighbourhoods. However, this is a city-wide study that considers nuisance conditions for residents caused by heavy industrial businesses in any area of Saskatoon.

The goal of this study is to determine whether there are ways to address the existing nuisance conditions in areas where heavy industrial-residential interfaces exist. It is intended to balance quality of life for residents near heavy industrial areas and economic prosperity for existing heavy industrial land uses.