Simcoe County educates public on new official plan

There are 93 settlement areas listed in the County of Simcoe’s proposed official plan and they range from rural hamlets to villages and towns.

“The hamlets and villages, in all likelihood, at most you may see a lot, here or there developed. It’s not going to bring on vast amounts of new growth,” said Kathy Suggitt, the county’s manager of policy planning.

Smaller settlement areas are expected to maintain historical growth levels. Municipalities will direct the majority of population and employment growth to their larger communities, labeled primary settlement areas. They include: Alcona, Alliston, Bradford, Collingwood, Midland and Penetanguishene.

Primary settlement areas will be developed as complete communities and these developments will be serviced by full municipal water and sewage, Suggitt said.

The official plan is under appeal at the Ontario Municipal Board.

Once approved, it will set the stage for growth and development over 20 years. All 16 municipalities will update their official plans to conform with the county plan, Suggitt said.

Barrie and Orillia have their own plans that stand apart from the county’s.

The County of Simcoe is holding two information sessions in April to educate you about the plan.

Two identical information sessions will take place April 20 at the County of Simcoe Museum at 1151 Hwy. 26, Minesing. One runs from 2 to 4 p.m. and the other from 6 to 8 p.m.

Here are Simcoe County’s 93 settlement areas:

• Alcona, Alliston, Angus, Anten Mills, Ardtrea, Atherley/Uptergrove, Avening.

• Batteaux, Baxter, Beeton, Bond Head, Bradford, Brechin, Brentwood.

• Centre Vespra, Coldwater, Churchill, Colgan,Collingwood, Colwell, Cookstown, Cooper’s Falls, Craighurst, Creemore.

• Dunedin, Duntroon.

• East Oro, Edgar, Elmvale, Everett.

• Fennell’s Corners, Fesserton, Forest Home.

• Gamebridge, Gilford, Glen Huron, Glencairn, Guthrie.

• Hawkestone, Hillsdale, Hockley, Horseshoe Valley.

• Ivy.

• Jarratt.

• Lafontaine, Lagoon City, Lefroy/Belle Ewart, Lisle, Longford Mills, Loretto.

• Marchmont/Bass Lake, Midhurst, Midland, Minesing, Moonstone.

• New Lowell, Newton Robinson, Nottawa.

• Old Sunnidale, Oro Station.

• Penetanguishene, Perkinsfield, Phelpston, Port Severn, Port McNicoll, Price’s Corners.

• Rosemont, Rugby.

• Sandy Cove, Sebright, Severn Falls, Shanty Bay, Singhampton, Snow Valley, Stayner, Stroud, Sugarbush, Sunnidale Corners.

• Thornton, Tioga, Toanche, Tottenham.

• Udney, Utopia.

• Victoria Harbour

• Warminster, Wasaga Beach, Washago, Waubaushene, Waverley, West Shore, Wyebridge, Wyevale.