Grow the Sault
Grow the Sault
Sault Ste. Marie is experiencing a period of expansion and development. By the year 2036, it is anticipated that an additional 8,400 residents will have made Sault Ste. Marie their home. "Grow the Sault" refers to a series of ongoing initiatives designed to ensure that this growth occurs in a sustainable, efficient, and beneficial manner. The key components of Grow the Sault's projects include:
A Housing Action Plan: implementing various actions the City will undertake to accelerate new housing starts;
Gentle Density and Regulatory Flexibility: permitting higher density and more types of dwelling units in more zones, as a matter of right;
Strategic Development Areas (SDAs): directing higher-density development to areas equipped to accommodate such growth, or ‘growing the city from within’ and achieving complete neighbourhoods;
Reduced Parking Requirements: a thorough review of parking requirements to identify opportunities for reduction, thereby unlocking additional development potential; and
An Official Plan Amendment to current Affordable Housing Policies: to amend the current Official Plan approach to affordable housing.
Thank you to all who provided their input. It is a critical part of these projects!
Please click on the tabs below to read about each of the Grow the Sault projects. Each description will provide a link to a project webpage where you can find more detailed information.
Open Houses (come and go) were held on the following dates for each of the Grow the Sault projects. Thank you to those that attendend and/or offered feedback:
- November 14, 2023 @ Northern Community Centre - 556 Goulais Avenue (Atrium) - 4:00pm to 7:00pm
- November 15, 2023 @ Civic Centre - 99 Foster Drive - (Lobby - 2nd Floor) - 4:00pm to 7:00pm
- November 16, 2023 @ John Rhodes Community Centre - 260 Elizabeth Street - (Meeting Room 3) - 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Purpose of the Housing Action Plan
The purpose of the Housing Action Plan is to establish goals and strategic actions to address the evolving housing needs of the City of Sault Ste. Marie. Safe, accessible, and affordable housing is widely recognized as a foundation of complete and healthy communities, and an important contributor to individual and community social, environmental, and economic wellbeing. However, like many municipalities across Canada and in Ontario, the supply and affordability of adequate housing has emerged as a critical challenge.
This Plan represents an important initiative towards advancing the City’s housing objectives, and in doing so, functions to address near- and longer-term housing needs. It establishes a total of five Goals and supporting Strategic Actions that will contribute to the provision of housing for all residents of the City.
Please visit the Housing Action Plan website to read the Plan and view the actions the City will undertake to accelerate new housing starts. The Housing Action Plan was approved by Council on December 11, 2023.
Contact the City's Planning Department:
Feel free to contact the Planning department using the information found below or on the Housing Action Plan webpage.
Email: planning@cityssm.on.ca
Telephone: 705-759-5368
Location: Civic Centre - 99 Foster Drive, Sault Ste. Marie, P6A5X6