The County of Renfrew is in the final phase of updating its Official Plan (OP), which was first approved in 2003.
An Official Plan is a policy document that guides the short-term and long-term development of a community. The OP applies to all lands within the municipal boundary (with some exceptions, such as federal lands) and the policies within it provide direction for the size and location of land uses, provision of municipal services and facilities, and resources protection. These types of policies are required by the Ontario Planning Act and are necessary to promote orderly growth and compatibility among land uses. An Official Plan may address issues such as where new housing or industry can be located; where roads, water mains and sewers will be needed; what parts of the community will grow; and what parts of the community new development should avoid, such as hazard lands or areas of environmental constraint.
“Overall, we tried to maintain the spirit and balance of Renfrew County values by keeping the policies flexible, while also addressing Provincial policies,” said Charles Cheesman, Manager of Planning Services, County of Renfrew.
The upcoming special County Council meetings and open houses are a follow-up to the seven open houses and public meetings the County held in August of 2016.
To advise of the changes made in the March 2018 draft Official Plan and to provide the public an opportunity to address County Council, two open houses and special council meetings have been scheduled that will follow the format below:
OPEN HOUSES AND SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETINGS – DATES AND LOCATIONS
- 1) Thursday, March 22, 2018 – Eagle’s Nest, Eganville Community Centre, 178 Jane Street, Eganville, Ontario
- 2) Wednesday, April 4, 2018 – Germania Club Pembroke, 118 Bennett Street, Pembroke, Ontario
2:00 – 4:30 p.m. (OPEN HOUSE / DROP IN) – County staff will be available to meet with residents one-on-one.
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. (FORMAL SPECIAL COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING) – The meeting will begin with a presentation by County Staff on the Official Plan and the major changes proposed in the March 2018 draft version. After the staff presentation, the public will have the opportunity to formally address County Council.
In an effort to make efficient use of time available at the formal council meeting, for those who wish to address or make a presentation to County Council:
Presenters will be requested to sign in before the meeting starts and will be scheduled in a “first-come, first-serve” order. Presentations will be no more than five (5) minutes and submissions from the same persons/groups/associations will only be heard at one meeting.
More information on the March 2018 draft Official Plan is available on the County of Renfrew website at http://www.countyofrenfrew.on.ca/departments/development-and-property/planning-and-land-division/official-plans-and-amendments/
