Oshawa wants zoning regulations to allow more commercial uses in neighbourhoods

Oshawa wants to tweak its zoning regulations and development practices to allow convenience stores, small grocery stores and restaurants and coffee shops to be included in existing and future neighbourhoods.

According to City staff, it’s all about bringing amenities closer to where people actually live to reduce carbon emissions and road congestion as well as promoting active living and community safety.

The motion came up at Monday’s Development Services Committee meeting and staff have been directed to prepare a “roadmap” to revise City zoning bylaws, regulations, and application requirements and fees in stages to reduce the number of restrictions in existing and future residential areas for this kind of development.

Committee was told that there “numerous examples” throughout the city and other municipalities of small amenities located on edges of and within neighbourhoods that predate existing zoning restrictions, and these have maintained viability and utility to area residents while being “suitably scaled” to those neighbourhoods.

Staff will also consult as early in the process as possible with Durham Region and with the Oshawa Environmental Advisory Committee, the Oshawa Active Transportation Advisory Committee, and the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee, to obtain input on this direction to further inform the process ahead, and to check in with the same committees once the process is further developed.