July 27th, 2026

At their regular meeting on July 13th Council gave third reading to the proposed amendments to the City’s Official Community Plan Bylaw to redesignate lands within the Central Newton Industrial Study Area from “Industrial” to “Employment I.” The proposed redesignation of the Central Newton Study Area from Industrial to Employment I responds to market demand associated with the Newton Cultural District and similar previous land use redesignations, and addresses compatibility issues with adjacent residential uses that were not anticipated when the Industrial designation and buffer requirements were established prior to the small-scale multi-unit housing legislation, as well as the need for flexible Employment land designations in an area with good transit service.  

Additional information can be found in the full report by city staff.