Public gets chance to hear details of County’s new modified Official Plan

AWARE Simcoe news release – July 7 2012 

AWARE Simcoe learned yesterday that a Simcoe County meeting on Tuesday July 10 to brief local planners and councillors on its proposed modified Official Plan will be open to the public.

Unfortunately, the public may only observe and will not be afforded an opportunity to comment or ask questions.

AWARE Simcoe believes that the County should hold meetings that will allow input from residents, said AWARE Simcoe chair Don Morgan, noting that the Official Plan has not been the subject of public consultation since it was approved in 2008. 

At present, it appears that is not being contemplated. Only planners and councillors will be able to engage in discussion at Tuesday’s meeting, starting at 9 a.m. in the Simcoe County boardroom at the administration centre in Midhurst. 

“This at least will be an opportunity for the public to get some idea of what changes have been made to the OP as a result of negotiations with the provincial government,” said Morgan. “We urge members of the public to attend.”

County councillors learned in May, to their surprise, that provincial approval of the SC OP, and subsequent approval of local Official Plans, cannot come until next year.

That was because of the ill-advised appeal made to the Ontario Municipal Board by the previous council of the province’s non-approval of the Official Plan, which violated provincial policy and Places to Grow. That appeal means that the OMB has to review the modified OP even if the province is prepared to sign off on it.

“This is an extremely important moment in the life of the County,” Morgan said. “It’s a time when we face unprecedented pressure from developers, and farmland across Ontario is disappearing under the spread of urban sprawl.”

Although the meeting is open, pre-registration is required, by emailing info@simcoe.ca.

Written comments may be submitted on or before August 22, 2012, to Brenda Clark, County Clerk. More info and link to OP.

AWARE Simcoe’s critique of the Provincial Places To Grow, Amendment 1.

AWARE Simcoe is meeting with other groups to develop a similar assessment of the County’s modified Official Plan and will release it in early August. To be notified, email mrcinc@interlog.com and ask to be added to the AWARE Simcoe email alert list.