‘Major milestone’: County of Simcoe plan for population and employment growth moves forward
According to director of planning Nathan Westendorp, the official plan amendment voted on by Simcoe County councillors Aug. 9 represents a “balanced approach” between growth in settlement areas and the protection of agricultural land and the natural environment.
From Simcoe.com, August 12, 2022
By Travis Mealing
Getting a group of toddlers to agree on their favourite ice cream might be easier than achieving unanimity among a crowd of politicians.
Nonetheless, a clear majority of Simcoe County mayors and deputy mayors voted Aug. 9 to proceed with an official plan amendment (OPA), the latest step in the ongoing municipal comprehensive review.
The MCR is a process stemming from the province’s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Phase 1, intended to allocate population and employment growth to the year 2051, is now complete. Councillors voted 20-11 in favour of the report presented to committee of the whole.
“Finding 16 municipalities that will all agree on the exact allocations is going to be an almost impossible task,” said Rob Elliott, general manager of engineering, planning and environment. “But we feel we’ve responded to the province’s goal.”
Oro-Medonte Mayor Harry Hughes strongly disagreed with the numbers applied to his township, noting they work out to annual growth of 82 residents and 100 jobs.
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