Residential Zones Project

In anticipation of future growth in both new communities and within existing communities, the City is working on several projects related to residential growth:

• A long-term growth strategy for the City

Imagining New Communities Public Open Houses (November 2018)

In November 2018, The City hosted a series of public open houses to talk about planning for future communities:

• what density looks like
• how to plan for complete communities
• how zoning can contribute to making great communities

It’s about imagining new communities and what that would look like for you – how you live now and how you want to live in the future.

• Staff Report PED19055
  • Appendix A - Open House Display Panels
  • Appendix B - Visual Preference Survey Results
  • Appendix C - Summary of Comments Received
  • Appendix D - Summary of General Comments Received

Secondary suites in detached structures are to be permitted in certain areas within the city provided they adjoin a laneway and satisfy a number of other zoning regulations. This pilot project is intended to help inform the residential zoning project.

The approved By-law 18-299 amended regulations of Section 19 of Zoning By-law No. 6593 to allow secondary units within detached structures for existing single detached dwellings within the lower City (parts of Wards 1, 2, 3 and 4) adjoining a laneway. A future information guide will be created to help residents better understand the process and requirements of this pilot project, including a warning advising that continued use and maintenance of the alleyway is not secured or protected.

View the report presented to Planning Committee

Building New Homes in Ancaster's Mature Neighbourhoods

Council directed staff to review the Existing Residential “ER” Zone in Ancaster to determine how to manage the building of new residential homes in mature areas.

Ancaster is one of many communities facing change where larger homes are replacing smaller ones that were built decades before.  Mature neighbourhoods are different from new growth areas such as the Meadowlands, not only in the character of the neighbourhood, but also in how development is regulated.

In consultation with the Ancaster community, a pilot project for the “ER” Zone has been developed, consisting of a series of changes to the regulations of the “ER” Zone. Zoning By-law regulations establish an as-of-right building envelope that guides development or redevelopment on individual properties. 

The changes to the regulations are not intended to remove the flexibility of land owners when building new homes or additions, or to control design or building materials. The changes are intended to provide a more sensitive integration of new construction within mature neighbourhoods.

In addition to the changes to the regulations, the pilot project has expanded the site plan approval process to include all properties located in the “ER” Zone. Site plans address a number of matters including but not limited to building locations, grading, elevations, site access and site circulation, tree preservation and landscaping. For properties in the “ER” Zone, the site plan approval process is intended to address grading, elevational changes of a property as it relates to grading, and tree preservation. Only certain types of development in the “ER” Zone are subject to site plan approval.

Changes to the Existing Residential “ER” Zone

Changes to Zoning Regulations:

• Modify the regulations for maximum lot coverage, front yard setback, side yard setback, rear yard setback, and maximum height of a principal dwelling
• Introduce new regulations for garage location (projection) and second storey projections

Changes to Site Plan Control By-law No. 15-176:

• Properties zoned Existing Residential “ER” Zone are subject to Site Plan Control to address:
  • Grading
  • Elevational changes of a property as it relates to grading
  • Tree preservation
• However, an application for Site Plan Approval is only required for certain types of development in the Existing Residential “ER” Zone.  

For full details on the types of development that are subject to Site Plan Control, refer to By-law No. 21-069. Visit Site Plan Approvals for more information on the site plan approval process.