Official Plan Review - Project Update (February 14, 2023)

The following updates were provided by Summer Valentine, Director, Planning, Building, & Economic Development, during the Development & Operations Services Standing Committee meeting held February 13, 2023:

A few matters have arisen that will impact the timing of the delivery of the next draft of the new Town of Collingwood Official Plan, now targeted for release in March or April of 2023.

First…

We are closing in on nearly 200 comment letters received from the circulation of the first draft released in August of 2022, and they continue to come in. Staff are thrilled with the community interest and engagement in this project. Stakeholder, Indigenous, agency and public input is critical to the land use planning process, and it is imperative each comment is reviewed and responded to accordingly with any necessary policy changes. The comments range from general insights to individual site matters. Addressing this feedback and providing Council with a strong rationale for the anticipated multiple changes to the draft Official Plan is underway but will take time.

While staff are extremely grateful and excited about the interest in the Official Plan Review, we do not have the resources or budget to meet with or respond to each comment individually with a letter or email. However, the next draft of the Official Plan will have a comprehensive feedback-response matrix that covers every submission.

Second…

Bills 109 and 23, passed by the Province to facilitate the construction of 1.5 million homes in the next decade have significant consequences on land use planning policies and processes as well as land economics, which are just starting to be understood. Staff want to ensure that the next draft of the Official Plan appropriately responds to the legislative requirements and limits the risks associated with unintended consequences of the Bills, where possible. This includes reviewing the County of Simcoe Official Plan (which will no longer have any effect under Bill 23) and incorporating any operative policies into the Town Plan.

Further, the Province has been consulting on policy changes as part of their housing plan. If the Provincial Policy Statement and/or Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe change significantly in the near term, as guiding documents for Official Plans in the Province, the amendments will need to be reviewed and translated into local policy.

Third…

The growth management official plan amendment that represents Phase One of the County's Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) was adopted by County Council and is under consideration for approval by the Province. Notwithstanding the lack of clarity on the County's future role in land use planning, any approved MCR updates must be incorporated into the Town's Official Plan. Additionally, the MZO for the Poplar Regional Health and Wellness Village was approved by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The conversion of those lands from traditional employment to mixed use will have significant impacts on residential and non-residential unit supply for the Town and needs to be considered in the next draft of the Official Plan.

Stay tuned for the release of the next draft of the Official Plan and future consultation opportunities at: https://engage.collingwood.ca/official-plan!