New Official Plan

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Perth County is in the process of creating a New Official Plan to guide future planning and development within the County. Based on community input, background reports and updated provincial policy the New Official Plan will ensure both a vision for Perth County and a comprehensive strategy for cultivating new opportunities, building community, ensuring environmental health and making intelligent and informed land use decisions.

We are currently in Phase 3; writing the draft New Official Plan. If you’re interested in participating in the New Official Plan visit the Get Involved page. The Public consultation period which is scheduled to begin in 2023.

For more information on our Proposed Natural Environment Designation, view our Natural Environment page.

Latest Update: New OP Update Presentation (February 16, 2023)

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Timeline

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.

At-a-glance Timeline:

At-a-glance timeline showing that Phase 1, 2, are completed and that we are currently in Phase 3

Detailed Timeline - starting at Phase 3:

A detailed timeline looking at the New Official Plan's timeline starting at Phase 3

Phase 3 - Spring/Summer 2023

Phase 3 Graphic

Engage technical committees and stakeholder groups to provide input into the draft policies and maps
Editing the drafted policy text document, ensuring inclusive, accessible language and formatting are included
Double checking proposed mapping updates for Agriculture areas, Natural Environment areas, and settlements
Preparing the proposed growth areas for discussion with Councils and Committees

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.

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 prior and during this Phase have included:

Reviewed properties to ensure designations are correct and appropriate;
Mapped Agriculture (the largest designation in the county) to ensure properties are designated properly in order to support stewardship efforts;
Developed an overlay to show information other than designations that are informed by policies in the OP – for example, flood area mapping. GIS Staff have contacted the various service providers to ensure all data used is up-to-date;
Previous Official Plan Amendments have been reviewed and will be included in the new policy where possible or can be used to deem a parcel ‘legal non-conforming’;
Next steps: Updating the mapping of the Natural Environment System (following public consultation).

Phase 4 - Summer/Fall 2023

Phase 4

Broad public engagement on the draft Official Plan (eg: online, in-person open houses, etc.)
Ongoing development of tools and opportunities to share the draft Official Plan with the public and seek their feedback
Consult on Natural Environment mapping and policy using various options for the public to access and discuss the information
Finalize proposed growth plan and targets for affordable/attainable housing and intensification in settlements

Phase 5 - Fall/Winter 2023

Phase 5

Roll out tools and opportunities inviting the public to equitable engagement on the proposed new Official Plan
Use feedback and public engagement results for final editing of the new Official Plan
Prepare for final public meeting and presentation of the draft Official Plan to County Council
Deliver the prepared new Official Plan to the Province of Ontario for review and approval

About the New Official Plan

What is an Official Plan?

The Official Plan is a strategic planning document that guides the long-term vision for the growth and development of the communities within Perth County including the Municipalities of North Perth, and West Perth, and the Townships of Perth East and Perth South.

Why a New Official Plan?

Our current Official Plan was created in the late 1990's. Since then policy direction from the Province has changed; most recently in the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) 2020. The County is in need of a new visionary and policy document that is both reflective of these updates and reflective of current community concerns, priorities and values. As well the New Official Plan will act as a guidance document for municipalities across the County to facilitate movement towards more advanced land use and social policies.

The New Official Plan will amalgamate the current County Official Plan with those of member municipalities into a singular plan. This will ensure consistent policy implementation across the County and an easier to navigate planning framework.

What Will be Addressed?

An Official Plan deals with many types of issues, such as:

Growth management (population and employment forecasts)
Housing types and affordability
Appropriate areas for commercial and industrial businesses
Infrastructure, such as roads, water and wastewater
Protection of the natural environment
Protection of agricultural land
Cultural Heritage conservation

Background Information

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 (CR) final report was completed by Watson & Associates, and finalized in April 2020. The CR provided growth projections for housing and employment including a breakdown of housing types and the amount of land needed to accommodate the expected growth.

View the Perth County Official Plan Update-Comprehensive Review

In June 2021, Council initiated an update of the comprehensive review in light of increases at the time in building permit activity, the upcoming census results and changes in economic trends resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic. A Growth Forecast Update Memorandum was received through Council in October 2022 and an additional Growth Allocation and Land Needs Memorandum was received in April 2023. A final report will be received in summer of 2023.