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. The Planning Division has just wrapped up recruitment for the Stakeholder Focus Group. The application period has ended and all applicants will be contacted by the end of August.
If you’re interested in participating in the New Official Plan but missed our deadline to apply, you can still participate during our public consultation period which is scheduled to begin in early 2023.
To see our progress and browse background reports informing this project visit our ‘Background’ section. Stay tuned to our ‘Get Involved’ section to see how you can contribute to this project.
What is an Official Plan?
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| 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?
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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.
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What Will be Addressed?
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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
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Phase 3 - Fall 2022/Winter 2023
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- 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
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Double checking proposed mapping updates for Agriculture areas, Natural Environment areas, and settlements
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Preparing the proposed growth areas for discussion with Councils and Committees
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Phase 4 - Winter/Spring 2023
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- 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
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Consult on Natural Environment mapping and policy using various options for the public to access and discuss the information
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Finalize proposed growth plan and targets for affordable/attainable housing and intensification in settlements
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Phase 5 - Spring/Summer 2023
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Roll out tools and opportunities inviting the public to equitable engagement on the proposed new Official Plan
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Use feedback and public engagement results for final editing of the new Official Plan
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Prepare for final public meeting and presentation of the draft Official Plan to County Council
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Deliver the prepared new Official Plan to the Province of Ontario for review and approval
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