City of North Battleford council approves the bylaw amendment during its regular meeting on Monday, June 9, 2025, at Don Ross Centre chamber. (Kenneth Cheung/ battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Kenneth Cheung

BYLAW NO. 2176

North Battleford council approves zoning bylaws changes to support business growth

Jun 10, 2025 | 11:51 AM

City council has approved a zoning bylaw amendment aimed at encouraging commercial development and mixed-use projects across North Battleford.

The amendment, passed unanimously at the June 9 regular meeting, updates Zoning Bylaw No. 1971 through the adoption of Bylaw No. 2176. It expands permitted and discretionary uses in several commercial zones and introduces new regulations for businesses such as pawnshops, second-hand stores and animal care services.

Read more – From pawnshops to pet care: What’s in North Battleford’s proposed zoning bylaw

Mayor Kelli Hawtin said the changes are intended to be more business-friendly and reflect development proposals the city had previously been forced to turn away.

“We’ve received inquiries over the last few years for different types of development that we’ve had to refuse administratively,” Hawtin noted. “This council just wanted to make an effort to be a business-inclusive and business-friendly community.”

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She said the bylaw allows for more permitted uses across all commercial zones, including the C3A corridor along Railway Avenue South and the city’s northern boundary, the C4 district near Frontier Mall and Walmart, as well as the downtown core.

“There’s more flexibility in what can be developed in all commercial areas,” she said. “When inquiries come into economic development or planning, we have more opportunities to say yes.”

The bylaw also updates standards for drive-through restaurants, boarding kennels and mixed-use buildings that include residential units. It formalizes evaluation criteria for discretionary uses such as scrap metal dealers and arcades.

City manager Randy Patrick described the changes as a temporary measure ahead of a broader overhaul of the city’s Official Community Plan and zoning framework over the next couple of years.

“This is patching,” he said.

“What we have here is reasonable, but there are areas that maybe shouldn’t be zoned the way they are…there’s things along those lines that we have to look at, and we have to do that from fundamental restart.”

The bylaw follows a public consultation process that included an open house and two formal public hearings. Hawtin praised the level of community engagement and the feedback received.

Candace Toma, the city’s public and intergovernmental relations co-ordinator, said the bylaw also supports residential development in commercial areas — a trend being adopted in other municipalities.

“We’ve started introducing that over the last year with the previous council, and now again, with this council in these commercial districts, allowing some residential uses too.”

Council adopted the bylaw without amendment following third reading and it will take effect immediately.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com