Official Plan Amendment 23

The effect of OPA 23 would be to:

• Update permitted uses in the Rural designation,
• Change development policies in the Rural designation,
• Update definitions related to the Rural permitted uses, and
• Change one Agricultural development policy which currently conflicts with the Aggregate Resource Area policies.

The above-noted policy changes, if approved, would apply across the County, and are not specific to any one piece of land. No changes are being made to the mapping in the County’s Official Plan. A key map has not been provided because Official Plan Amendment # 23 covers rural areas throughout the County and is not proposing any mapping changes.  OPA 23 does not impact existing planning applications which have already been submitted and are already in process.

Within Ontario the planning and development process is an open and transparent process, where opinions from all individuals and groups are welcomed.  By law a municipality must hold a public meeting, and this meeting is just one of your chances to learn about the official plan amendment and offer your opinions. 

1. Any persons may attend the public meeting and/or make written or verbal representation either in support of or in opposition to the proposed official plan amendment.

2. If a person or public body would otherwise have an ability to appeal the decision of the County of Grey to the Ontario Land Tribunal but the person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the County of Grey before the official plan amendment is adopted, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision.

3. If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the County of Grey before the proposed official plan amendment is adopted, the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Land Tribunal unless, in the opinion of the Tribunal, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public body as a party.

4. If you wish to be notified of the decision by the County of Grey in respect to the approval or refusal of the official plan amendment, you must make a written request to the County, at the address noted above. Please note Official Plan Amendment # 23 when directing comments to the County.

For more information about this matter, including information about appeal rights, contact County staff at planning [at] grey.ca (planning[at]grey[dot]ca) or via mail at Grey County Planning Dept., 595 9th Avenue East, Owen Sound, Ontario, N4K 3E3

A note about information you may submit to the County: Under the authority of the Municipal Act, 2001 and in accordance with Ontario's Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), all information provided for, or at a Public Meeting, Public Consultation, or other Public Process are considered part of the public record, including resident deputations. This information may be posted on the County website, and/or made available to the public upon request.