Town of Marathon Official Plan and Zoning By-Law Review

Marathon Official Plan & Zoning By-Law

The Town of Marathon is undertaking an Official Plan and Zoning By-law Review, as well as a Housing Needs Assessment. The Town has retained consultants WSP, metroeconomics, and CGIS to assist with the project.

The Review process will result in a new Official Plan and Zoning By-law, which will replace the Town’s existing Official Plan and Zoning By-law that were both approved in 2016.

Links:

Town of Marathon Official Plan (2016)

Town of Marathon Zoning By-law No. 1873

Project Update: Zoning Strategy Report available for review – February 2026

The Town and project team have completed preparation of the Draft Official Plan and it is currently with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) for their first review. It is anticipated that the Draft Official Plan will be presented to the community at a Statutory Public Open House this spring.

In the meantime, the Zoning By-law Review will continue to advance while the Draft Official Plan is being reviewed by the MMAH. A Zoning Strategy Report has been prepared that sets out key recommendations for updates to the Town’s Zoning By-law, including those related to:

· Ensuring conformity between the Draft Official Plan and new Zoning By-law

· Updates to the document layout, and addition of a User Guide to assist with navigation of the Zoning By-law

· Updates to zoning provisions, including permitted uses, lot and building standards

· Review and updates of the Zoning Schedules (i.e., maps)

The Zoning Strategy Report

Questions or comments on the Zoning Strategy Report or Official Plan and Zoning By-law Review can be directed to Tim Allen, CBO, Building Services & Economic Development Manager, Town of Marathon at cbo@marathon.ca

Project Update: Final Official Plan Policy Directions and Recommendations Report and Housing Needs Assessment (November 2025)

The Final Official Plan Policy Directions and Recommendations Report is available to view. The report has been finalized based on input received at the Special Meeting of Council that was held on October 29, 2025.

The Final Official Plan Policy Directions and Recommendations Report

Additionally, the Final Housing Needs Assessment (November 2025) has been prepared to incorporate data and input received from local organizations and engagement activities, including the Public Open House held in Marathon on August 19, 2025. The Town would like to extend their thanks to those who provided valuable feedback in preparation of the study. The Final Housing Needs Assessment is available to review.

Final Housing Needs Assessment (November 2025)

Findings and recommendations from these reports will be referenced in preparation of the Town’s new Official Plan and Zoning By-law in the coming months into Winter 2026. A Combined Statutory Public Open House is anticipated to be held in Marathon in Spring 2026 to present the draft documents to the community.

FINAL Housing Needs Assessment - November 2025 FINAL Background Report - October 2025 FINAL Policy Directions And Recommendations Report - November 2025

Thank You and Input Requested on Visioning Questionnaire for the Town’s New Official Plan

Thank you to members of the community who attended the first Public Open House held at Marathon Town Hall on August 21, 2025. For those who were unable to attend, the presentation and display boards can be viewed at the links below.

· Public Open House #1 – Presentation

· Public Open House #1 – Display Boards

A short Visioning Questionnaire is available at the link here:

Official Plan and Zoning By-law Review – Visioning Questionnaire

It includes questions related to various land use planning themes (e.g., housing, the Town’s waterfront redevelopment, among others). Your input will help the project team in preparing a draft Vision statement and identifying local needs and priorities for the Town’s new Official Plan, which will be presented to Council and the community at a Special Meeting of Council to present the draft policy directions for the new Official Plan. This meeting is anticipated to be held in Fall 2025, so be sure to check back at this project webpage for future updates! The Visioning Questionnaire is available for responses until September 10th, 2025 at 11:59 PM.

Comments on the Draft Background Report and Draft Housing Needs Assessment are kindly requested by August 29, 2025, and can be submitted to: Tim Allen, CBO, Building Services & Economic Development Manager, Town of Marathon at cbo@marathon.ca.

General questions or comments on the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Review and Housing Needs Assessment can also be directed to Tim at his contact information above.

The Town and its consultant team initiated work on the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Review and the Housing Needs Assessment in early April 2025. The project team met with representatives from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the various provincial ministries involved with Official Plan reviews in late April 2025. The consultant team has completed the initial background review, including gathering data and information pertaining to population, housing, and employment forecasts, as well as the unique local context, issues, and goals in Marathon that will inform the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Review.

A Public Open House was held in Marathon on August 19, 2025 to introduce the project to the community and present the findings of the Draft Background Reports and Draft Housing Needs Assessment.

A Draft Official Plan Policy Directions and Recommendations Report was prepared and presented to Council at a Special Meeting on October 29, 2025, as required under the Planning Act. The Official Plan Policy Directions and Recommendations Report has been finalized and available to view.

Official Plan Policy Directions and Recommendations Report

Subsequently, the Final Housing Needs Assessment (November 2025) was prepared to incorporate input received from local organizations and engagement activities, and is available to review.

Final Housing Needs Assessment (November 2025)

The project team will be proceeding with preparing the Draft Official Plan and Draft Zoning By-law over the course of late Fall 2025 into Winter 2026. It is anticipated that these drafts will be available for public review in late Winter 2026, and will be presented to the community at a future Statutory Public Open House in Spring 2026.

The Town must undertake a review and update of its Official Plan periodically, to ensure that the objectives and policies of the Plan remain current and relevant, and meet the requirements of the Planning Act, the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024, and other provincial policies and regulations. The Zoning By-law must be updated to conform with the new Official Plan.

The new Official Plan will be adopted by Town Council and submitted to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for approval. Once the Official Plan is approved, the new Zoning By-law will be adopted by Council. The Official Plan and Zoning By-law Review are expected to be completed in 2026.

The Official Plan and Zoning By-law Review project process is illustrated below:

The Ontario Planning Framework

The Planning Act sets out a framework for land use planning in Ontario. The Provincial Planning Statement, 2024 establishes policies for matters of provincial interest, that all municipal Official Plans must be consistent with. Zoning By-laws must conform to and implement Official Plan policies.

The Official Plan sets out the vision, goals, objectives, and policies for growth and development within the Town within a specified planning horizon. An Official Plan is the cornerstone for decision-making related to land use and development and must be kept current to reflect the vision and goals the community is trying to achieve. The Town of Marathon’s new Official Plan will provide land use policy direction to guide growth and development for the next 25 years to the year 2051.

An Official Plan helps to ensure:

Compatibility of neighbouring land uses (e.g., residential, commercial, employment, parks and open space);

An appropriate mix and amount of development;
Effective management and/or protection of natural resources;
Protection and preservation cultural heritage resources;
Cost-effective and timely delivery of infrastructure and municipal services;
Protection of surface and groundwater; and
Sustainable economic and community growth, among other matters.

The Official Plan also includes a series of maps (i.e., Schedules) that identify land use designations where specific existing and future land uses are permitted.

A Zoning By-law is a legal document prepared in accordance with the requirements under Section 34 of the Planning Act. It implements the Town’s Official Plan policies by establishing and assigning various Zones to all properties in the Town and establishing built-form standards for how a property may be developed. Zoning also helps to avoid or reduce land use conflicts between incompatible land uses by prescribing the types of uses that are permitted in specific areas.

A Zoning By-law also establishes:

A series of maps (i.e., Schedules) that illustrate the location of Zones across the Town;
General provisions for specific land uses, such as accessory buildings and structures, home businesses and home industries, and special setbacks for development adjacent to watercourses and waterbodies, railway corridors, and other features;
Detailed standards such as lot size, lot coverage, and setbacks which determine where buildings and structures can be located on a property; and
Other development requirements, such as those related to building height, parking, and landscaping.

For example, the following diagram illustrates where a building may be constructed on a lot, when taking into account the yard and setback requirements of a Zoning By-law.

The Town is seeking a wide variety of input into the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Review. These documents and their Schedules will guide and regulate where and how future growth and development in the Town will occur. Input from residents is needed to help establish a common vision and reflect this vision through the objectives and policies of the Official Plan, and the requirements of the Zoning By-law, while meeting Provincial requirements.

Residents, businesses, and organizations have valuable information to share in this process:

Are you thinking of subdividing or developing your land?
Are you interested in adding an additional residential unit, like a basement or upper-storey apartment, to your property?
Do you think there is a need for more diverse housing options in the Town?
How would you like the Town’s economic base to grow?
Would you like to see more greenspaces and trails in your community?
What should the Town do to improve climate resilience?
Are you concerned about protecting natural areas?
Where should the Town invest in municipally-led improvements, like streetscaping and infrastructure?

Throughout the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Review process, there will be many opportunities to provide input and participate through in-person engagement events!

Future Public Open Houses to present the Draft Official Plan and Draft Zoning By-law will take place in 2026.

For further information or to submit any comments or questions regarding the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Review, please contact:

Tim Allen, Chief Building Official / Building Services & Economic Development Manager