St. Thomas 2051 – Setting the Track for our Future

The City of St. Thomas is in the process of reviewing and updating its Official Plan. An Official Plan is an important land use planning document that provides strategic direction and land use policies to support the goals, objectives, and long-term vision for the City. This helps guide the physical, social, economic, and environmental management and growth of the City over its planning horizon.

Essentially, this document helps in “Setting the Track for our Future” by balancing the interests of private property owners and what’s best for the community as a whole. The update and review are important opportunities to ensure that the City continues to address local priorities and provincial requirements based on changing community needs.

Why do we need a New Official Plan?

The City’s current Official Plan is over 45 years old (approved by the Province in 1980). Since then, direction from the Province has evolved and changed multiple times, much like the City of St. Thomas. A new and more modern Official Plan will better allow the City to meet the current and future needs of the community.

Recent Provincial changes are requiring the creation of a more streamlined development approvals process. The updated Official Plan will bring the City’s policies more in line with current planning practices and other various provincial requirements, while ensuring that the City is still able to influence the types of growth, development, and communities that residents, businesses and visitors want to be a part of. In addition, this updated direction will better align with types of development that the City is seeing today and support new types of businesses and developments that the community would like to see moving into the future.

Why should this matter to you?

As a resident, landowner, business owner, or member/visitor of the community, you live and/or work in this community. You should have an opportunity to help plan, create and have a say in the future of your community.
Your input is important and will help us identify a vision and guiding principles for the new Official Plan, revise existing policies and/or create new policies that help the City manage growth and development, protect what you value, and create an innovative and forward-thinking community.

The City encourages you to stay updated on this project by clicking the "+ Follow" button in the top banner. As this page is updated, you will receive email notifications to keep you informed on progress.

Session 4: Natural Environment, Hazards and Public Open Space

To Be Determined (Fall 2026)

The City of St. Thomas is currently undertaking a Request for Proposals process to complete a city-wide Natural Heritage System and Natural Hazards review that will help provide direction into the Official Plan update. To ensure that the City is coordinating these two processes, Session 4 will be held when the successful candidate has been selected and is anticipated in the Fall of 2026.