Official Plan Review

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Aerial photo of Farnham road with the Moira River in the background.

Project Overview

The City of Belleville retained NPG Planning Solutions to complete an Official Plan Review to the City of Belleville Official Plan. The objective of the project is to bring the document into consistency with recent provincial legislative changes and update residential and intensification policies that will support and encourage a wide range of building typologies. This update is essential to align the Official Plan with recent provincial legislative changes and address emerging housing needs and demographic changes in the City.

An Official Plan is a local policy document that outlines a city's long-term vision for growth, guiding decisions on land use, development, and infrastructure planning.

This Official Plan Review will:

  • Bring the document into consistency with recent provincial legislative changes, including but not limited to Bill 109, Bill 23, Bill 185, Bill 17, Provincial Planning Statement, 2024, and key provisions of the Planning Act;
  • Update residential policies to support and encourage missing middle housing
  • Assess, update, and consolidate mixed-use policies to align with best practices;
  • Incorporate enabling policies to facilitate future intensification projects

By updating the Official Plan, Belleville aims to support a wide range of housing options and promote economic growth to support all residents.

Various public engagement opportunities will be hosted for this project. Public members are encouraged to attend pubic engagement events to learn more about this Official Plan Update and provide their input as the project proceeds.

This Official Plan Review is a milestone as part of the City's successful Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) application. The City's Housing Action Plan submitted as part of HAF included several projects the City is committed to completing to boost housing supply, while supporting affordable, diverse and climate-resilient communities.

Stay Informed:

Keep updated on this project by following this page. Submit your email, and any project updates posted here will be sent to your inbox.

Project Overview

The City of Belleville retained NPG Planning Solutions to complete an Official Plan Review to the City of Belleville Official Plan. The objective of the project is to bring the document into consistency with recent provincial legislative changes and update residential and intensification policies that will support and encourage a wide range of building typologies. This update is essential to align the Official Plan with recent provincial legislative changes and address emerging housing needs and demographic changes in the City.

An Official Plan is a local policy document that outlines a city's long-term vision for growth, guiding decisions on land use, development, and infrastructure planning.

This Official Plan Review will:

  • Bring the document into consistency with recent provincial legislative changes, including but not limited to Bill 109, Bill 23, Bill 185, Bill 17, Provincial Planning Statement, 2024, and key provisions of the Planning Act;
  • Update residential policies to support and encourage missing middle housing
  • Assess, update, and consolidate mixed-use policies to align with best practices;
  • Incorporate enabling policies to facilitate future intensification projects

By updating the Official Plan, Belleville aims to support a wide range of housing options and promote economic growth to support all residents.

Various public engagement opportunities will be hosted for this project. Public members are encouraged to attend pubic engagement events to learn more about this Official Plan Update and provide their input as the project proceeds.

This Official Plan Review is a milestone as part of the City's successful Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) application. The City's Housing Action Plan submitted as part of HAF included several projects the City is committed to completing to boost housing supply, while supporting affordable, diverse and climate-resilient communities.

Stay Informed:

Keep updated on this project by following this page. Submit your email, and any project updates posted here will be sent to your inbox.

  • Notice of Open House and Public Meeting

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    An Open House, as noted above, will be held in the Sir Mackenzie Bowell Room of Belleville City Hall (169 Front Street) on April 21, 2026, at 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. to allow the public to review the draft Official Plan Amendment resulting from the Official Plan Review undertaken for the City of Belleville.

    A Public Meeting, as noted above, will be held in the Council Chambers of Belleville City Hall (169 Front Street) on May 4, 2026, at 5:30 P.M. to allow the public to comment on the draft Official Plan Amendment resulting from the Official Plan Review undertaken for the City of Belleville.

    The Planning Act requires that a municipality’s Official Plan:

    • has regard to matters of provincial interest;
    • is consistent with provincial policy statements; and
    • addresses recent legislative changes.

    The Planning Act further stipulates that a municipality’s Official Plan be updated not more than 10 years after first approval and not more than every 5 years thereafter. The City’s current Official Plan was adopted by Council in 2021 and approved by the Province in 2023. The Province has made numerous changes to provincial legislation in recent years and issued a new Provincial Planning Statement in 2024. In addition, the City has made a commitment to update residential policies to support and encourage missing middle housing. The City has therefore determined it is appropriate to review and update the Official Plan to ensure it conforms to recent changes to provincial planning legislation and the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024, as well as to consider issues or matters identified in comments by the public or agencies.

    A draft Official Plan Amendment has been prepared to update the Official Plan that includes changes that will affect all lands within the City of Belleville. For this reason, no key map showing affected lands is provided.

    Additional information regarding the Official Plan Review can be viewed at: https://getinvolved.belleville.ca/official-plan-review

    Purpose of the Open House and Public Meeting:

    The Open House and Public Meeting are held in accordance with the requirements of the Sections 17 and 26 of Planning Act. The Open House is intended to provide an opportunity for the public to review and ask questions about the draft Official Plan Amendment. The Public Meeting is intended to provide an opportunity to offer comments on proposed changes to the Official Plan being advanced by the draft Official Plan Amendment.

    Open House details:

    Please note that the Open House will be held in person only. There will be no virtual or online participation option available.

    How to watch the Public Meeting:

    If you are unable to attend, the Public Meeting will be streamed live, available for viewing on the Belleville City Hall YouTube channel (youtube.com/BellevilleCityHall). The video will also be posted online following the meeting in the event you were unable to watch it live at the time it occurred.

    How to submit comments:

    You may submit correspondence regarding the Official Plan Review by mail or in person at: Belleville City Hall, 169 Front Street, Belleville, K8N 2Y8, or by email at: planning@belleville.ca.

    How to appeal the decision:

    If a person or public body would otherwise have an ability to appeal the decision of the City of Belleville to the Ontario Land Tribunal but the person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the City of Belleville before the bylaw is passed, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision and that person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Land Tribunal unless, in the opinion of the Tribunal, there are reasonable grounds to do so. Please be further advised that written submissions received prior to the public meeting may be made available to the Applicant.

    Personal Information Disclaimer:

    Personal information collected as a result of this public process is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), the Planning Act, and all other relevant legislation, and will be used to assist in making a decision on this matter. All personal information (as defined by MFIPPA), including (but not limited to) names, addresses, opinions and comments collected will form part of the public record which will be made available, at the meeting, through requests, and through the website of the Corporation of the City of Belleville. Questions regarding the collection, use and disclosure of this personal information may be directed to the City Clerk, Regular Council Meeting, 169 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario K8N 2Y8.

    For more information:

    Please contact the Policy Planning Section, Engineering & Development Services Department by email: planning@belleville.ca or by telephone: 6139673224.

    DATED at the City of Belleville this 09, day of April 2026

    An Open House, as noted above, will be held in the Sir Mackenzie Bowell Room of Belleville City Hall (169 Front Street) on April 21, 2026, at 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. to allow the public to review the draft Official Plan Amendment resulting from the Official Plan Review undertaken for the City of Belleville.

    A Public Meeting, as noted above, will be held in the Council Chambers of Belleville City Hall (169 Front Street) on May 4, 2026, at 5:30 P.M. to allow the public to comment on the draft Official Plan Amendment resulting from the Official Plan Review undertaken for the City of Belleville.

    The Planning Act requires that a municipality’s Official Plan:

    • has regard to matters of provincial interest;
    • is consistent with provincial policy statements; and
    • addresses recent legislative changes.

    The Planning Act further stipulates that a municipality’s Official Plan be updated not more than 10 years after first approval and not more than every 5 years thereafter. The City’s current Official Plan was adopted by Council in 2021 and approved by the Province in 2023. The Province has made numerous changes to provincial legislation in recent years and issued a new Provincial Planning Statement in 2024. In addition, the City has made a commitment to update residential policies to support and encourage missing middle housing. The City has therefore determined it is appropriate to review and update the Official Plan to ensure it conforms to recent changes to provincial planning legislation and the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024, as well as to consider issues or matters identified in comments by the public or agencies.

    A draft Official Plan Amendment has been prepared to update the Official Plan that includes changes that will affect all lands within the City of Belleville. For this reason, no key map showing affected lands is provided.

    Additional information regarding the Official Plan Review can be viewed at: https://getinvolved.belleville.ca/official-plan-review

    Purpose of the Open House and Public Meeting:

    The Open House and Public Meeting are held in accordance with the requirements of the Sections 17 and 26 of Planning Act. The Open House is intended to provide an opportunity for the public to review and ask questions about the draft Official Plan Amendment. The Public Meeting is intended to provide an opportunity to offer comments on proposed changes to the Official Plan being advanced by the draft Official Plan Amendment.

    Open House details:

    Please note that the Open House will be held in person only. There will be no virtual or online participation option available.

    How to watch the Public Meeting:

    If you are unable to attend, the Public Meeting will be streamed live, available for viewing on the Belleville City Hall YouTube channel (youtube.com/BellevilleCityHall). The video will also be posted online following the meeting in the event you were unable to watch it live at the time it occurred.

    How to submit comments:

    You may submit correspondence regarding the Official Plan Review by mail or in person at: Belleville City Hall, 169 Front Street, Belleville, K8N 2Y8, or by email at: planning@belleville.ca.

    How to appeal the decision:

    If a person or public body would otherwise have an ability to appeal the decision of the City of Belleville to the Ontario Land Tribunal but the person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the City of Belleville before the bylaw is passed, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision and that person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Land Tribunal unless, in the opinion of the Tribunal, there are reasonable grounds to do so. Please be further advised that written submissions received prior to the public meeting may be made available to the Applicant.

    Personal Information Disclaimer:

    Personal information collected as a result of this public process is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), the Planning Act, and all other relevant legislation, and will be used to assist in making a decision on this matter. All personal information (as defined by MFIPPA), including (but not limited to) names, addresses, opinions and comments collected will form part of the public record which will be made available, at the meeting, through requests, and through the website of the Corporation of the City of Belleville. Questions regarding the collection, use and disclosure of this personal information may be directed to the City Clerk, Regular Council Meeting, 169 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario K8N 2Y8.

    For more information:

    Please contact the Policy Planning Section, Engineering & Development Services Department by email: planning@belleville.ca or by telephone: 6139673224.

    DATED at the City of Belleville this 09, day of April 2026

  • Notice of Public Meeting

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    A Meeting of Council, as noted above, will be held in the Council Chambers of Belleville City Hall (169 Front Street) on March 9, 2026, at 4:00 P.M. to discuss the Official Plan Review being undertaken for the City of Belleville.

    The Planning Act requires that a municipality’s Official Plan:

    • has regard to matters of provincial interest;
    • is consistent with provincial policy statements; and
    • addresses recent legislative changes.

    The Planning Act further stipulates that a municipality’s Official Plan be updated not more than 10 years after first approval and not more than every 5 years thereafter. The City’s current Official Plan was adopted by Council in 2021 and approved by the Province in 2023. The Province has made numerous changes to provincial legislation in recent years and issued a new Provincial Planning Statement in 2024. In addition, the City has made a commitment to update residential policies to support and encourage missing middle housing. The City has therefore determined it is appropriate to review and update the Official Plan to ensure it conforms to recent changes to provincial planning legislation and the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024, as well as to consider issues or matters identified in comments by the public or agencies.

    The Official Plan Review will affect all lands within the City of Belleville. For this reason, no key map showing affected lands is provided.

    Purpose of the Meeting: The public meeting is held in accordance with the requirements of Section 26 of the Planning Act. The purpose of this meeting is to introduce the project to the public, discuss possible revisions to the Official Plan that may be required, and for Council Members to formally hear and receive public comments on any issue or matter that should be considered as part of the Official Plan Review.

    How to watch a meeting: If you are unable to attend, all Council meetings will be streamed live, available for viewing on the Belleville City Hall YouTube channel (youtube.com/BellevilleCityHall). The video will also be posted online following the meeting in the event you were unable to watch it live at the time it occurred.

    How to submit comments: You may submit correspondence regarding the Official Plan Review in writing to Doug Irwin, City Clerk, Official Plan Review by mail at: Belleville City Hall, 169 Front Street, Belleville, K8N 2Y8, or by email at: dirwin@belleville.ca

    Personal Information Disclaimer: Personal information collected as a result of this public process is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), the Planning Act, and all other relevant legislation, and will be used to assist in making a decision on this matter. All personal information (as defined by MFIPPA), including (but not limited to) names, addresses, opinions and comments collected will form part of the public record which will be made available, at the meeting, through requests, and through the website of the Corporation of the City of Belleville. Questions regarding the collection, use and disclosure of this personal information may be directed to the City Clerk, Regular Council Meeting, 169 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario K8N 2Y8.

    For more information:

    For more information, please contact the Policy Planning Section, Engineering & Development Services Department by email: planning@belleville.ca or by telephone: 613-967-3288.

    Doug Irwin,

    City Clerk,

    Regular Council Meeting

    DATED at the City of Belleville this 22, day of January 2026.

    A Meeting of Council, as noted above, will be held in the Council Chambers of Belleville City Hall (169 Front Street) on March 9, 2026, at 4:00 P.M. to discuss the Official Plan Review being undertaken for the City of Belleville.

    The Planning Act requires that a municipality’s Official Plan:

    • has regard to matters of provincial interest;
    • is consistent with provincial policy statements; and
    • addresses recent legislative changes.

    The Planning Act further stipulates that a municipality’s Official Plan be updated not more than 10 years after first approval and not more than every 5 years thereafter. The City’s current Official Plan was adopted by Council in 2021 and approved by the Province in 2023. The Province has made numerous changes to provincial legislation in recent years and issued a new Provincial Planning Statement in 2024. In addition, the City has made a commitment to update residential policies to support and encourage missing middle housing. The City has therefore determined it is appropriate to review and update the Official Plan to ensure it conforms to recent changes to provincial planning legislation and the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024, as well as to consider issues or matters identified in comments by the public or agencies.

    The Official Plan Review will affect all lands within the City of Belleville. For this reason, no key map showing affected lands is provided.

    Purpose of the Meeting: The public meeting is held in accordance with the requirements of Section 26 of the Planning Act. The purpose of this meeting is to introduce the project to the public, discuss possible revisions to the Official Plan that may be required, and for Council Members to formally hear and receive public comments on any issue or matter that should be considered as part of the Official Plan Review.

    How to watch a meeting: If you are unable to attend, all Council meetings will be streamed live, available for viewing on the Belleville City Hall YouTube channel (youtube.com/BellevilleCityHall). The video will also be posted online following the meeting in the event you were unable to watch it live at the time it occurred.

    How to submit comments: You may submit correspondence regarding the Official Plan Review in writing to Doug Irwin, City Clerk, Official Plan Review by mail at: Belleville City Hall, 169 Front Street, Belleville, K8N 2Y8, or by email at: dirwin@belleville.ca

    Personal Information Disclaimer: Personal information collected as a result of this public process is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), the Planning Act, and all other relevant legislation, and will be used to assist in making a decision on this matter. All personal information (as defined by MFIPPA), including (but not limited to) names, addresses, opinions and comments collected will form part of the public record which will be made available, at the meeting, through requests, and through the website of the Corporation of the City of Belleville. Questions regarding the collection, use and disclosure of this personal information may be directed to the City Clerk, Regular Council Meeting, 169 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario K8N 2Y8.

    For more information:

    For more information, please contact the Policy Planning Section, Engineering & Development Services Department by email: planning@belleville.ca or by telephone: 613-967-3288.

    Doug Irwin,

    City Clerk,

    Regular Council Meeting

    DATED at the City of Belleville this 22, day of January 2026.

  • Notice: Official Plan Review Public Consultation Centre

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    The City of Belleville is reviewing its Official Plan to ensure it is consistent with Provincial planning direction and aligns with evolving City needs, priorities and aspirations. The Official Plan guides and shapes the future of the City by identifying where and what type of development can occur, how it will be designed, and what must be protected.

    We invite you to drop in at the public consultation centre to review preliminary directions for the plan updates and share your thoughts on the future of the City. City staff and our consultants will be in attendance to chat, or you can leave some written comments.

    Saturday, September 13, 2025

    DROP IN between 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

    At City Hall, 169 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario K8N 2Y8 (3rd Floor, SMB Meeting Room)


    KEY DISCUSSION TOPICS

    Growth Management Belleville has updated City growth projections for population, housing and land supply. As we grow, we need to plan where growth will be focused in the City. We need to balance new development with the ability to provide municipal services.
    Intensification We recognize the need to plan for denser development in key areas such as the downtown. We will update policies to manage medium and high density development, and residential and commercial (mixed) uses. We will consider how denser development can fit in with existing communities.
    Housing Belleville is committed to providing a wider range of housing to meet the needs of residents with varying family sizes, ages, abilities and incomes, including affordable housing. The City will consider how to support development of affordable housing and “missing middle” housing forms.
    Agriculture and Rural Farming is an important part of Belleville’s economy, and protection of farmland is integral to the City. Changes to the Official Plan will consider the agricultural systems approach, and outline how and when agricultural impact assessments will be used to ensure that farmland is protected in future.


    The City of Belleville is reviewing its Official Plan to ensure it is consistent with Provincial planning direction and aligns with evolving City needs, priorities and aspirations. The Official Plan guides and shapes the future of the City by identifying where and what type of development can occur, how it will be designed, and what must be protected.

    We invite you to drop in at the public consultation centre to review preliminary directions for the plan updates and share your thoughts on the future of the City. City staff and our consultants will be in attendance to chat, or you can leave some written comments.

    Saturday, September 13, 2025

    DROP IN between 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

    At City Hall, 169 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario K8N 2Y8 (3rd Floor, SMB Meeting Room)


    KEY DISCUSSION TOPICS

    Growth Management Belleville has updated City growth projections for population, housing and land supply. As we grow, we need to plan where growth will be focused in the City. We need to balance new development with the ability to provide municipal services.
    Intensification We recognize the need to plan for denser development in key areas such as the downtown. We will update policies to manage medium and high density development, and residential and commercial (mixed) uses. We will consider how denser development can fit in with existing communities.
    Housing Belleville is committed to providing a wider range of housing to meet the needs of residents with varying family sizes, ages, abilities and incomes, including affordable housing. The City will consider how to support development of affordable housing and “missing middle” housing forms.
    Agriculture and Rural Farming is an important part of Belleville’s economy, and protection of farmland is integral to the City. Changes to the Official Plan will consider the agricultural systems approach, and outline how and when agricultural impact assessments will be used to ensure that farmland is protected in future.