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Community Planning Services

SARM employs a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) who meets all membership requirements for education and responsible professional planning experience with the Saskatchewan Professional Planners Institute and the Canadian Institute of Planners. Servicing contracts with external planning and Geographic Information System (GIS) specialists are managed by the department to provide additional planning and mapping support to SARM members. SARM planning services provides advice and support to both rural and urban municipalities on a variety of planning and land use topics as well as the preparation of planning documents. The following is a list of planning documents and services available to help your municipality:

  • Official Community Plan & District Official Community Plan
    The Official Community Plan (OCP) or District Official Community Plan (DOCP) provides guidance for the physical, environmental, economic, social and cultural aspects of a community or region. It provides a framework of goals, objectives and policies to guide Council, Administration, developers, and the public on the growth and development of the municipality or region. SARM’s planning services can help create a new OCP or DOCP, update current plans, prepare amendments, or prepare bylaw consolidations.
  • Zoning Bylaw
    The Zoning Bylaw provides regulations to implement the policies contained within the Official Community Plan or District Official Community Plan. The purpose of a Zoning Bylaw is to provide for appropriate land uses in order to minimize land use conflicts, set standards for the use and subdivision of land, and help manage the supply of municipal services and resources to new development. SARM’s planning services can help create new Zoning Bylaws, update current bylaws, prepare amendments, or prepare bylaw consolidations.
  • Interim Development Control Bylaw
    The Interim Development Control Bylaw (IDCB) provides temporary control of land uses while the municipality undertakes the task of developing and implementing an Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw. SARM’s planning services can work with the municipality to prepare an Interim Development Control Bylaw.
  • Subdivision Application Review
    The Ministry of Government Relations – Community Planning Branch is the approving authority for all subdivisions in Rural Municipalities. The municipality plays a role in the process by outlining policies and regulations for subdivision in their Official Community Plan or District Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw. A servicing agreement can be required to ensure the servicing of the subdivision is to municipal standards and the municipality will not incur all servicing costs. SARM’s planning services can help review subdivision referrals to ensure applications are consistent with municipal policies and regulations.
  • Development Permits
    If a municipality has a Zoning Bylaw, the way to approve development is through permit applications to ensure applications are consistent with municipal policies and regulations.
  • Geographic Information System (GIS) & Mapping
    GIS is a computer system designed to capture, store, manage, analyze, and map geographically referenced data. GIS is used to create the maps associated with planning bylaws. GIS and mapping is a way to visually represent the existing land uses and features of a municipality as well as proposed future land uses. SARM’s planning service manages servicing contracts with GIS specialists to provide GIS and mapping support to SARM members.
  • Miscellaneous Planning Inquiries & Assistance
    SARM’s planning services will work with your municipality and assist with any planning and development questions or issues. If SARM planners are not able to answer your inquiry directly, we’ll help find the right person for you to talk to.

Please reach out to SARM’s Community Planning Service to discuss your municipality’s planning or GIS mapping needs. Subject to the size, scope, and timing of your request, SARM staff or one of our trusted partners will provide you with support. Internal planning services are provided to SARM members free of charge as added value with their SARM membership.

Community Planning Links

Contact

Jennifer Chamberlin, Manager, Community Planning
jchamberlin@sarm.ca or 306.761.3723