Official Plan Review

Project Overview

The Township of Woolwich is undertaking the preparation of a New Official Plan to replace the current Official Plan that has completed in the 1980s, with updates in the early 2000s and 2020. The most recent update to the Official Plan addressed conformity to the Regional Official Plan (2015). The Region is currently completing a Regional Official Plan Update, which is anticipated to be completed in early 2023.

The preparation of the Township's New Official Plan will address conformity with the updated Regional Official Plan, and compliance with the Planning Act changes, Provincial Policy Statement, a Place to Grow, and all other applicable legislation and policy documents.

In addition to this, the New Official Plan will develop the following:

• Intensification strategy for Elmira, St. Jacobs, and Breslau
• Commercial strategy to support 15-minute communities
• Institutional strategy

These strategies will contribute to the objectives and goals in planning for growth to 2051, and will support updates and inclusion of policies related to climate action initiatives; sustainable/green building; complete streets; urban design for residential, commercial, and industrial areas; municipal parks and recreation including parkland dedication; and housing policies to address affordable and attainable housing along with intensification.

View the presentation made to Council on March 28, 2023 in the Documents folder.

Engagement Opportunities

NPG Planning Solutions Inc. (NPG) has been retained to undertake a comprehensive review and work with The Township of Woolwich to create its new Official Plan. The Townships new Official Plan will shape the community and its growth to the year 2051.

The Township in collaboration with NPG will host a number of engagement opportunities to gather input from the community. The engagement kicked off with a focus group public open house on April 20th and continues with a number of stakeholder meetings throughout April and early May.

The goal of the Community Visioning phase will be to increase awareness about the Official Plan review and to generate feedback and ideas from the community to establish a vision, goals and objectives that will guide the new Official Plan. Some of the questions we are wanting to hear about are – Is there anything the new Official Plan can do better than it does now? Or Does the current vision, goals and objectives of the current Official Plan resonate with you? Why or Why not?

HAVE YOUR SAY!

An Online Survey has been prepared and is available via the direct link or viewing information in the Documents folder.

To view the current Township of Woolwich Official Plan please visit the Township website at the link below:

View the Current Official Plan

NEW - PROVINCIAL UPDATE

Please be advised that the Township of Woolwich has prepared a response memo to the Province regarding proposed legislation that would wind back Provincial changes to Official Plans and Official Plan Amendments. This memo will be presented to Township of Woolwich Council at their meeting on Tuesday, November 21^st at 7 pm. The Council Agenda Package has been published and can be viewed at https://calendar.woolwich.ca/council/Detail/2023-11-21-1900-Council-Meeting .

Anyone wishing to register as a delegate (speak to Council), either in person or virtually via Zoom, should complete the online form at https://forms.woolwich.ca/Speak-to-Council-Registration-Form.

Anyone wishing to watch the meeting but not participate can attend in person at the Administration Building (24 Church Street East, Elmira) or tune in via our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOnLlF3Srk2gLEBjkq8pIMQ.