PEMBROKE — The five-year update to the Renfrew County Official Plan (Amendment 25) was adopted by Council at the April session of County Council. The Official Plan Amendment has been sent to the Province of Ontario for final review and approval. This is the last step in the process of updating the County’s Official Plan.
The adoption of the Official Plan Amendment comes after consultation with local municipalities, residents, and local community groups. The County held nine open houses, seven public meetings, and two special County Council meetings in late March and early April of this year. The special County Council meetings provided the public with an opportunity to address County Council and make any final adjustments before the Plan was adopted and sent to the Province for approval.
“I wish to thank staff for all their dedication and hard work in compiling this Official Plan while taking into account the input from our residents,” said County Warden Jennifer Murphy. “This led to a plan that was flexible in nature, maintained the spirit and balance of Renfrew County values, while also addressing Provincial policies.”
An Official Plan is a policy document that guides the short-term and long-term development of a community and affects all lands within a municipal boundary (with some exceptions, such as Federal lands).
The purpose of the five-year review is to ensure that the Official Plan is meeting the needs of the community, has regard to provincial interests (e.g., protecting ecological systems, conserving mineral aggregate resources, planning for appropriate locations of growth and development), and is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS).
More information on the Official Plan will be available on the County of Renfrew website at: http://www.countyofrenfrew.on.ca
