Planning Staff have been working diligently to advance the New Official Plan (OP). The mapping has largely been completed, in collaboration with County Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Staff, and the new text is drafted for review. Whilst preparing these critical components of the New OP, Staff have also been engaging Lower-Tier partners in growth planning workshops to inform how areas of growth are selected and the key factors that affect the selections (i.e. municipal servicing). These knowledge-sharing sessions will assist the Lower-Tiers, as planning authorities, when staff recommendations are provided that identify which properties should be designated for growth in the New OP.
To learn more about the status of the New OP, read the Official Plan Update staff report presented to Council on June 17, 2021 OR click below to read about the exciting next steps in developing the New OP.
| 1. Review Draft Text |
| Perth County engaged WSP Consulting Inc. to prepare the draft text for the New OP. The text received included all the necessary sections and policy coverage. County Staff requested that the text receive a ‘plain language refresh’ to make it more accessible to readers and the citizens of Perth County. This work was completed and Staff are now reviewing the text to add the nuances of planning in Perth County. These efforts will ensure that the text aligns with the values and needs of communities within the county. Staff continue to meet regularly with WSP Consulting Inc. during the review to receive feedback and ask questions. |
| 2. Complete Mapping |
The mapping is a critical component of the New OP – it identifies the designation for every property in the county. The mapping is near completion after having been completely rebuilt. Efforts on behalf of Planning and GIS Staff have included:
|
| 3. Continued Growth Planning |
| The Comprehensive Review completed in 2019 identified all Lower-Tier municipalities are growing. Further to this, it specifically identified that Perth East and North Perth do no have enough land designated to accommodate the projected growth. Staff are working to provide recommendations for what lands should be designated for the anticipated growth, along with the associated planning rationale (evaluation of constraints and compatibility). These efforts may include expanding a settlement boundary, which will require an Agricultural Impact Assessment.
The ongoing workshops provided to Lower-Tier partners advocate for the importance of growth as a local governance concept – these sessions identify how growth and municipal servicing are connected. Further, Staff use this time to provide preliminary recommendations regarding areas to be designated for boundary expansion.
In June 2021, Perth County Council requested that the Comprehensive Review being revised to reflect the recent influx of growth experienced since 2019 – the respective consultant will update the report and the information will be presented to County Council. Staff will determine next steps at that time which will include how the new growth projections affect where and how much land should be designated for growth in each Lower-Tier. |
| 4. Natural Heritage System |
| The Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) take a systems approach to protecting natural features in the landscape. A Perth Natural Heritage Systems Study was completed in 2019 and Staff are reviewing to create a strategy framework that will engage members of the public to educate on the purpose of natural heritage as it relates to the New OP.
Engagement and educational materials are being drafted, in collaboration with GIS Staff, to explain the systems approach and to provide landowners the opportunity to inquire how natural heritage mapping may affect them. A report will be provided to County Council that outlines that strategy for engaging the public in regard. |
| 5. Steering and Technical Committees and the Stakeholder Focus Group |
| The Steering Committee is comprised of the Mayor and CAO/Administrator of each Lower-Tier, as well as the Warden and CAO of the County. The Technical Committee is made up of various Ministry and Conversation Authority Staff, with expertise in difference subject areas. Staff are working to determine a strategy to engage both committees in an effective and efficient manner. |
| 6. Indigenous Peoples Consultation |
| Letters were drafted and sent to five organizations representing First Nation and Metis with interest in land within Perth County. The letter invited questions and comments about the process of developing a New OP and asked if there are particular interests or ways that staff can facilitate dialogue about the project. Whether or not there is interest in this particular project, it is important to get to know one another and build professional relationships with the indigenous groups whose traditional lands are within the boundary of Perth County. |
| 7. Public Consultation |
| Strategies for consultation and tools are in very early stages of development, but theme areas are being considered to help break this large document into subject areas that are more digestible by the public. Staff are taking the COVID-19 pandemic into consideration as this may affect the type of consultation that can occur. Some tools and strategies that are being considered include: videos, story maps, webinars and comment cards/polls. |
To review past reports and background information, click below.
Perth County Comprehensive Review |
| A background statistical study on housing supply, employment trends and population projections in Perth County. This report helps us project the land we need for residential and industrial growth over a 25 year period. The Perth County Official Plan Update - Comprehensive Review final report was completed by Watson & Associates, and finalized in April 2020.
View the Perth County Official Plan Update-Comprehensive Review |
New Official Plan Policy Directions Report |
| A background report on provincial policy considerations and updates since the last Official Plan review. It also includes community feedback that was collected from public engagement sessions in 2019. The report informs the policy updates and changes for the New Official Plan. The Policy Directions report was completed by WSP and finalized in April 2020.
This document provides:
View the Perth County New Official Plan Policy Directions Report |
Perth Natural Heritage Systems Study - Background |
What is the Perth Natural Heritage Systems Study (PNHSS)?The Perth Natural Heritage Systems Study (PNHSS) is a ecological, science based study that provides an assessment of all the natural features and their function throughout the County including: Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest; wetlands; woodlands; valleylands. Why did Perth County do a Natural Heritage Study when the Official Plan already has Natural Heritage policies?The study considers the size, proximity between and actual linkages of these natural features in order to study them as an ecological system rather than individual landscape features. The current Perth County Official Plan was created in the late 1990s and still looks at natural features individually. The new study uses a different approach to assessing the value and function that natural areas provide. The new Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) also requires that Perth County use a 'system' approach to identify and protect our natural environment. The PNHSS was developed to ensure that the system approach used in Perth County would be science based and as accurate as our latest mapping tools allow. The study provides a snapshot of the Natural Heritage system in Perth County at a given time and will allow for change to be calculated when new aerial photography becomes available every five years. How were the Natural Heritage features and areas that make up the system identified?Vegetation areas of 0.5 ha or larger (called vegetation communities in the study) were identified by searching aerial photography from 2015 and interpreting certain 'markers' for each vegetation community. Each community was categorized by a computer model and put into 'groups' or 'patches' depending on criteria like size, proximity between, diversity and other measures that helped to evaluate the relative importance of each area or feature. Each criteria was developed through review of literature on scientific research. Vegetation groups and patches that meet one or more criteria are considered to be Ecologically Important at the County level. Some Natural Heritage features identified as Ecologically Important in Perth County also meet the definition of 'significant' as per the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS). What Natural Heritage features and areas are included?
What is the difference between Natural Heritage and Cultural Heritage?Natural Heritage refers to areas in the landscape where vegetation, topography or surface water exist. These areas inherently serve as an integrated part of our ecosystem ensuring the ecological health of our environment and exist in both rural and settlement areas. Natural Heritage provides important environmental functions such as wildlife habitat, storm water management, improvement of water quality, erosion reduction, air purification and provide attractive spaces in our community for passive recreation. Cultural Heritage primarily focuses on constructed, built features, and archaeological areas possessing historical value to a community (i.e., historical settlement areas). The PNHSS or Natural Heritage policies do not include Cultural Heritage features or systems. |
Perth Natural Heritage Systems Study - Report |
| This Study will be used to direct updated Natural Heritage policies for the New Official Plan. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) was retained to develop a local framework for this project.
View the Perth Natural Heritage Systems Study (October 2018) View the Perth Natural Heritage Systems Study Update (June 2019) |
Past Project Milestones |
|
Contact Us
Latest Tweets: