Riverview Adopts New Municipal Plan and Zoning By-Laws

On November 10, 2025, Riverview Town Council unanimously adopted an innovative new Municipal Plan By-Law (300-34) and Zoning By-Law (300-8), marking the culmination of more than eighteen months of intensive public consultation and planning. These documents will guide land use, future development, and growth across the town for the coming generations.

A Vision for Riverview’s Future

The Town’s updated Municipal Plan reflects a forward-looking vision: Riverview is a dynamic community where people thrive, businesses prosper, and the natural environment is balanced with growth, providing a high quality of life for its residents.

The new Zoning By-Law brings this vision to life, translating long-term goals into clear guidelines and pathways for development. Together, these documents set the stage for expanded housing options, a more connected town centre, and intentional growth.

Key updates in the revised Municipal Plan and Zoning By-Laws include:

• Increased building heights: The Zoning By-Law now allows taller building heights to support a more dynamic, mixed-use core, while requiring appropriate setbacks from adjacent properties.
• Soft density on single-unit and semi-detached properties: Homeowners can add more accessory dwelling units (ADUs) or garden suites on their properties, to help increase the diversity of housing options while maintaining the character of existing neighbourhoods.
• Distinct town centre: The Town Centre zone, along both sides of Coverdale Road from Strathmore Avenue to Downey Avenue, aims to support walkable, higher-density mixed-use and commercial developments.
• Secondary Planning Areas: Specific undeveloped areas — such as the Gunningsville-Bridgedale-Robertson area and a portion of West Riverview — will undergo detailed planning exercises, ensuring future development is well-connected, context-sensitive, and aligned with infrastructure needs.

Why This Matters to Our Community

A Municipal Plan is more than a document - it’s a roadmap. It sets out where houses, shops, parks, trials, and roads can go, how to protect natural areas, and how to balance growth with town character and values. By articulating the Town’s goals, the Plan gives residents and developers predictability and helps guide investments in infrastructure, housing, and sustainability for years to come.

Ann Seamans, Chair, Municipal Plan Review Committee:

“This has required collaborative effort over more than 18 months, involving many hours of meetings, workshops, and direct conversations with residents. Our committee, made up of community members, business owners, Council, and Town staff, worked to ensure community input shaped every part of this plan. The adoption of the new Municipal Plan and Zoning By-Laws is a proud moment—we’ve translated feedback into real policies that will support growth while preserving what makes Riverview so special.”

Colin Smith, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Town of Riverview: 

“With these updated documents now in place, we have a clear framework for responsible and intentional growth. The Plan and Zoning By-Laws provide guidance for development, support opportunities for commercial activity, and set the stage for a vibrant, connected town centre, all while maintaining Riverview’s quality of life. This is not just planning; it is establishing the foundation for shaping Riverview’s future for years to come.”

Next Steps

With Town Council adoption complete and provincial approval received, the Town will begin implementing the new framework. This includes updating zoning maps, processing development applications under the new guidelines, and launching secondary plan studies in the identified growth area of Gunningsville-Bridgedale-Robertson.

The new Municipal Plan and Zoning By-Law are available on this webpage for review.