Elgin County Official Plan Review

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The purpose of an Official Plan Review is to ensure it reflects the changing needs, opportunities and aspirations of the County, and that any changes to community vision/values, directions, policies and actions are reflected in the Official Plan.

To get this done, the County needs to know what’s important to Elgin County residents, employers and visitors, and how they want to see the County grow.

Please subscribe to this page to receive updates and register to participate in a variety of engagement tools listed below.

Please note that all comments and feedback received through the consultation process will become part of the public record.


The purpose of an Official Plan Review is to ensure it reflects the changing needs, opportunities and aspirations of the County, and that any changes to community vision/values, directions, policies and actions are reflected in the Official Plan.

To get this done, the County needs to know what’s important to Elgin County residents, employers and visitors, and how they want to see the County grow.

Please subscribe to this page to receive updates and register to participate in a variety of engagement tools listed below.

Please note that all comments and feedback received through the consultation process will become part of the public record.


  • Official Plan Public Meeting - Have Your Say!

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    Elgin County invites residents and businesses to attend the Official Plan Public Meeting. This meeting is intended for anyone who wishes to provide comments or submissions on the proposed Official Plan to the County.

    Date: Tuesday, March 26th, 2024

    Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

    Location: Attend virtually or in person at the Elgin County Administration Building, 450 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas, ON

    Meeting Agenda: To view the meeting agenda please click here.

    Meeting Link: To join the meeting virtually please click here.

    Whether you prefer attending in person or virtually, your presence and feedback are highly encouraged. For those attending virtually, please click the link provided above to access the meeting.

  • Official Plan Public Open House - March 19, 2024

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    The County of Elgin hosted a Public Open House on Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 to discuss the project process and the proposed Official Plan. If you missed the Public Open House you can watch a recording of the meeting below. You can provide comments or ask questions by emailing opreview@elgin.ca or attend the Public Meeting on Tuesday, March 26th, 2024 virtually or in person.

    Official Plan Public Open House - March 19, 2024

  • Official Plan Public Open House - Have Your Say!

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    Elgin County invites residents and businesses to attend the Official Plan Public Open House. This meeting is your opportunity to have a say in decisions that will shape the way our communities will look in the future.

    Date: Tuesday, March 19th, 2024

    Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

    Location: Attend virtually or in person at the Elgin County Administration Building, 450 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas, ON

    Meeting Agenda: To view the meeting agenda please click here.

    Meeting Link: To join the meeting virtually please click here.

    Whether you prefer attending in person or virtually, your presence and feedback are highly encouraged. For those attending virtually, please click the link provided above to access the meeting.

    NOTE: If you are having difficulties accessing the virtual link, please email mcphail@republicurbanism.com

  • Official Plan Public Open House & Public Meeting Now Scheduled

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    The County of Elgin invites you to attend a public open house and a public meeting in consideration of the County’s Official Plan Review. These meetings will be held online with an option to attend the online presentation in person.

    The Public Open House is intended or anyone who wishes to learn more about the project process and the proposed Official Plan and will be held on March 19, 2024 at 5:00 pm online at https://engageelgin.ca/officialplanreview, or in person at 450 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas, ON

    The Public Meeting is intended for anyone who wishes to provide comments or submissions on the proposed Official Plan to the County and will be held on March 26, 2024 at 5:00 pm online at https://engageelgin.ca/officialplanreview, or in person at 450 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas, ON

    These meetings are statutory requirements under the Planning Act. A copy of the statutory notice can be accessed by clicking here.

  • Final Draft Elgin County Official Plan Now Available for Public Review and Comment

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    We are pleased to announce that the Final Draft Elgin County Official Plan (OP) was endorsed by County Council in January 2024 and is now available for public review and comment, and can be accessed by clicking here.

    This document contains the finalized text and schedules of the proposed Official Plan and includes revisions made as a result of the public commenting period and circulation of the document to public bodies and planning authorities conducted over the Spring of 2023.

    At this time, we invite members of the public to review the Final Draft Elgin County Official Plan and provide any comments to the project team. Feedback can be submitted via email to opreview@elgin.ca or by mail to:

    County of Elgin Planning Department

    450 Sunset Drive

    St. Thomas, ON N5R 5V1

    Attn: Paul Clarke, Planning Technician

    Please note that comments on the Final Draft Official Plan will be accepted until March 26, 2024. Following the public commenting period, all submissions will be reviewed and considered by the County prior to adoption by County Council, after which the plan will be forwarded to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for approval.

  • Discussion Paper #5 Addendum - Population, Housing and Employment Forecasts and Associated Land Needs

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    In the Summer of 2022 the County posted Discussion Paper #5 – Population, Housing and Employment Forecasts and Associated Land Needs. This report was a key background document to the Official Plan Review and provides a long-range growth outlook for the County and its lower-tier municipalities and assesses urban land requirements to 2051. As the basis for growth management policies in the County, in the Summer of 2023, County Council undertook an addendum to the report due to a major industrial announcement in the City of St. Thomas to ensure that the County properly assesses the potential impacts of this announcement on the County’s population projections and urban lands needs.

    A copy of the addendum can be accessed by clicking here.

  • Draft Elgin County Official Plan Now Available for Public Review and Comment

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    We are pleased to announce that the Draft Elgin County Official Plan (OP) was endorsed by Rural Initiatives Planning Advisory Committee in February 2023 and is now available for public review and comment.

    This document is the culmination of over two years of research, analysis, and community consultation, resulting in an updated and refreshed vision for Elgin County’s future. The draft OP is built around ten strategic directions that will help to guide policies and decision-making on important matters such as but not limited to: housing; economic development; the rural area; and natural resource management. For a high-level overview of the proposed changes, please click here.

    At this time, we invite all members of the public to review the Draft Elgin County Official Plan and share any comments, questions, or general feedback with the project team.

    Written feedback can be submitted via email to opreview@elgin.ca or by mail to:

    County of Elgin Planning Department
    450 Sunset Drive
    St. Thomas, ON, N5R 5V1.

    The Draft Elgin County Official Plan can be accessed here.


    Please note that submissions on the draft plan will be accepted until Monday, May 15, 2023.

    Following the public comment period, all feedback on the draft plan will be reviewed and presented to Council for consideration. Any changes to the draft document will then be incorporated before it is presented at a statutory public meeting and subsequently to Council for a decision in Summer 2023.

  • Discussion Paper #5 - Population, Housing and Employment Forecasts and Associated Land Needs

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    The final Discussion Paper #5 – Population, Housing and Employment Forecasts and Associated Land Need Analysis is now available for review.

    The report is a key background document to the Official Plan Review. It provides a long-range growth outlook for the County and its lower-tier municipalities and assesses urban land requirements to 2051. It also provides Official Plan policy recommendations to managing growth over the next 30 years consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 (PPS).

    The report also provides population, housing, and employment forecasts for the County of Elgin to 2051.

    Please visit our webpage and provide your comments on this important topic!

    Comments will be accepted until Friday August 12 at 4:30 p.m.

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  • Discussion Paper #4 - Housing and Affordability

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    Affordable housing is a broad term which encompasses a range of housing types. It includes both low-cost market housing for homeowners and renters, and non-market housing available at subsidized rates. The County is seeing a stronger demand for a larger variety of housing types and sizes to meet the diverse range and needs of residents and workers. The discussion paper will look at Provincial and local policies that refer to affordable housing, and what policies and tools have been implemented in surrounding municipalities. The paper will also review a range of planning and financial tools that are available to encourage the creation of affordable housing.

    When reviewing this document, questions to ask include:

    • How can the County encourage more affordable housing units?

    • Is the County willing to invest monies in incentivizing affordable housing?

    • What tools and policies ensure affordable housing are the best fit for the County?


    Discussion Paper #4 - Housing and Affordability

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  • Community Feedback Meetings

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    We Want to Hear From You!

    The County of Elgin hosted three (3) Community Feedback Meetings to discuss the Draft Natural Heritage Systems Study and Source Water Protection Plan. If you missed these meetings you can still provide comment until November 26, 2021. Comment here or email opreview@elgin.ca.

    Watch the presentations from the Community Meetings and send us your feedback.

    Natural Heritage Systems Study


    Source Water Protection





    Background

    Natural Heritage Systems Study

    • A Natural Heritage Systems Study is a network of interconnected natural features and areas such as woodlands, meadows and wetlands etc.
    • The purpose of a Natural Heritage Systems Study is to identify natural heritage features, recognize local linkages and wildlife corridors, improve existing environmental policies to better protect environmentally significant areas, protect and enhance regional biodiversity, help mitigate the effects of climate change, and conserve natural legacy for future generations.
    • The Province of Ontario requires municipalities to identify Natural Heritage Systems and preserve the diversity and connectivity of these features.
    • The requirement to identify Natural Heritage Systems is translated into Official Plan policies that inform development, environmental studies and conservation efforts.

    Source Water Protection Plan

    • Source Water Protection Plans contain policies that either recommend or require actions be taken to address activities identified as threats to drinking water sources.
    • The Clean Water Act, 2006 was approved by the province as a result of the contaminated water tragedy in Walkerton Ontario in 2000.
    • The recommendations of the Source Water Protection Plan include policies that will be added to the County and Local Official Plans to safe guard against uses that may pose a threat to drinking water.

    Click here for more detailed information on the draft Natural Heritage Systems Study and to read the associated discussion paper.


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Page last updated: 25 Mar 2024, 12:37 PM