What’s Happening?
Official Plan Amendment & Rezoning Request
The property at 630 Gore Road is currently designated primarily as a Rural and Environmental Protection Area under Kingston’s Official Plan. These designations protect the area’s natural features and limit large-scale development.
However, the property owner has submitted an application requesting an Official Plan Amendment and rezoning to change the land’s use. This would allow the development of a residential subdivision.
This rezoning request is tied to a proposal to expand Kingston’s urban boundary to include this rural land within the city’s urban area, which would be a significant change in how this land is managed and developed.
The City of Kingston is actively reviewing this application as part of the broader Official Plan Project.
Historical Background
Photo credit: City of Kingston, KMaps, 1984 Air Photo Service
There is some misconception that the west side of Butternut Creek was once densely forested. However, archival photos from the 1980s clearly show that much of this land was historically used as farmland, while the east side of Butternut Creek was forested at that time.
Developer Activity and City Response
In late April 2025, the developer’s operator began clearing parts of the 630 Gore Road property, relying on provincial soil re-use regulation O.Reg. 406/19.
The clearing resulted in:
- Loss of acres of wildlife habitat and vegetation, including trees smaller than 15 cm diameter at breast height.
- Concerns over transparency, consultation processes, and environmental impacts.
- Strong opposition and mobilization from residents and environmental groups alarmed by the potential harm to Butternut Creek’s natural heritage.
The City of Kingston issued a Stop Work Order in late May 2025 to halt all clearing activities until proper permits are obtained and reviewed.
In June 2025, the City’s Director of Planning Services refused the Tree Permit application submitted for the site, meaning no tree removal is currently authorized. 1,400+ living trees were identified in the developer’s tree inventory.
In August 2026, the owner submitted an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal based. They claim that the City of Kingston took too long to make a decision about their application. Friends of Butternut Creek has been granted Party Status.
Concurrently, there is a rezoning and plan of subdivision application: D35-004-2026. The Planning committee meeting is scheduled for November 5th, 2026 at 6:00PM