Charlottetown City Council approved a new Official Plan this week – a long-term blueprint that will guide the city’s growth, development and infrastructure over the next 15 years. The Official Plan will now be submitted to the provincial Department of Housing, Land and Communities to receive ministerial approval, at which point it will be considered fully adopted.
The updated Plan replaces the previous version from 1999 and positions Charlottetown for sustainable growth while ensuring the preservation of the city’s unique natural and historic assets.
The Plan was developed over two and a half years and involved extensive public consultation, including online surveys, email submissions, in-person and virtual open houses, and targeted stakeholder meetings and interviews.
“This Official Plan is the product of significant public consultation, and we received more than 1,500 responses from residents and groups throughout its development,” said Mayor Philip Brown. “This high level of civic engagement reflects a community that cares deeply about the future of our city and ensures the document reflects the priorities and values of the people it serves.”
The Official Plan includes strategies to ensure that future growth is both responsible and sustainable. The Plan outlines land use designations and key corridors to guide development in a way that protects neighbourhood character, supports resilient economic growth and encourages smart infrastructure planning. It also introduces policies designed to diversify the city's housing supply, making it easier for people to find affordable and suitable places to live.
Key policies include:
• Encouraging secondary and garden suites for more affordable housing options within established neighbourhoods.
• Promoting mixed-use developments that combine housing with community spaces and commercial areas, creating vibrant, walkable neighbourhoods.
• Promoting the construction of mid-rise apartment buildings along major corridors such as University Avenue and St. Peter’s Road, which will not only increase housing availability but also support public transit and active transportation.
• Ensuring that new developments address the growing need for diverse housing types including affordable units.
“As our city continues to grow, it’s essential that we do so thoughtfully, equitably and sustainably,” said Deputy Mayor Alanna Jankov, Chair of the Planning and Heritage Committee. “This Plan is rooted in the voices of our community and provides a forward-looking vision that balances housing, heritage and livability. It reflects what matters most to Charlottetown residents — a city that works for everyone today and for generations to come.”
An official plan is a policy framework for land use rather than a specific document that permits or restricts particular developments. The next step is the completion and subsequent implementation of a new Zoning and Development Bylaw, which is currently in development, and will serve as the regulatory framework by establishing specific rules for what can and can’t be built where. The public will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the draft Zoning and Development Bylaw in the coming weeks.
The public is encouraged to view the complete Official Plan on the city’s citizen engagement website at
charlottetownhall.ca/official-plan. A hard copy is also available to view at City’s Planning and Heritage Department at 70 Kent Street.
The development of this Plan reinforces the City’s commitment to the federal Housing Accelerator Fund program and supports all four pillars of Charlottetown’s Strategic Plan by guiding sustainable growth, enhancing community well-being, strengthening economic resilience and fostering effective governance.