New St. Mary’s High School Moves Forward with Public Meeting for Zoning Proposal
Owen Sound will hold a public meeting on June 23 to consider rezoning land for a new Catholic high school on 28th Avenue East, part of a $36.1M plan to replace St. Mary’s.
The City of Owen Sound is holding a public meeting on Monday, June 23, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. to consider a zoning by-law amendment that would allow for the construction of a new secondary school on 28th Avenue East, just south of 16th Street East.
The proposed zoning change would enable the Bruce Grey Catholic District School Board to move forward with building a new St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School, part of a provincially funded $36.1 million replacement project first announced in 2022.
The proposed school would be a two-storey building with over 12,000 square metres of space. Plans also include parking areas, sports fields, a field house, a small auto shop, and a stormwater management system.
A designated area would be set aside for portables if future student enrollment requires it.
This zoning amendment request follows an earlier step in the school development process. In July 2024, the Bruce Grey Catholic District School Board applied to sever an 18.5-acre portion of land at the same location, just south of 16th Street East at 28th Avenue East, as the future site of a new Catholic secondary school.
That request, heard by the City’s Committee of Adjustment, was a key milestone after the Ontario government committed $36.1 million to replace the aging and overcrowded St. Mary’s High School.
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The proposed school will serve as a new home for St. Mary’s, with upgraded facilities designed to meet the needs of students in Owen Sound and surrounding communities.
To move forward, the City must rezone the property from Rural (RUR) to Institutional (I). The current zoning does not permit school construction. The application may also adjust the boundaries of the nearby Hazard (ZH) zone, based on site-specific studies.
How to Participate
Residents can attend the public meeting in person at City Hall Council Chambers, 808 2nd Avenue East, or register to participate virtually by contacting City Clerk Briana Bloomfield at bbloomfield@owensound.ca or 519-376-4440 ext. 1247 by Friday, June 20 at 4:30 p.m.
You can also submit written comments, which will be included in the public record. Comments received by June 17 will appear on the Council agenda. Submit by:
Email: notice@owensound.ca
Mail: 808 2nd Avenue East, Owen Sound, ON N4K 2H4
To appeal the City’s decision later, you must either attend the meeting or submit written comments beforehand.
For full details or to view the proposed amendment and related reports, visit: www.owensound.ca/development or contact the Planning Division at planning@owensound.ca / 519-376-4440 ext. 1250.
If you own a building with seven or more residential units, you are asked to post this notice where all tenants can see it.
Source: Notice of Public Meeting - Zoning By-law Amendment (ZBA) No. 56 - 28th Avenue East, City of Owen Sound