Residents in Grimsby have until May 6, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. to provide their input on the town’s revised long-term growth plan. This updated roadmap, known as the Draft Official Plan, will guide housing, transportation, and development decisions through 2051.
The town released this second version of the plan in April 2026, incorporating feedback gathered during public sessions held between December 2025 and February 2026. As a legally binding document under the Planning Act, the plan will shape how the town grows as its population is expected to rise from approximately 30,000 residents today to over 50,000 by 2051. Officials also anticipate the creation of about 7,100 new jobs over the same period.
The updated proposal focuses on three main areas for residential and commercial growth: the downtown core, the area surrounding the new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital, and the future Casablanca GO Station area. The latter is designated for the highest level of growth, with the plan allowing for buildings up to 28 storeys. Meanwhile, the downtown and hospital districts are slated for smaller-scale development, with building heights limited to between two and six storeys.
This planning update follows changes made by the provincial government in March 2025, which transferred planning responsibilities from the regional level to local municipalities. Because of this shift, the town is currently working to consolidate existing regional and local policies into a single, cohesive document.
Grimsby residents can submit their comments and questions on the draft by email to [email protected]. Feedback can also be sent by mail to the Planning Department at 160 Livingston Avenue. After the deadline, the town expects to present the plan to the local council for final approval on June 1, 2026. Once council provides its endorsement, the document will move to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for final provincial review. More information about the proposal and its various policy themes is available at Let’s Talk Grimsby.
