County of Essex Official Plan Review (2022-2052)
One Land, One Climate, One Future, Together
Public Meeting Regarding the New Official Plan on April 5, 2023
What is an Official Plan and how does it affect the daily lives of people who live and work in Essex County?
People want to live in vibrant places with economic opportunities and town/village centres nearby that are safe, walkable and filled with a wide range of activities and services. They also want to live in places that have good schools, libraries, museums, recreational facilities and green spaces that they can enjoy year-round.
Our region is fortunate to have many of these attributes that make it a highly desirable place to live, work and play. We also have land and water resources and climatic conditions that can support strong and vibrant agricultural and tourism sectors.
A Municipal Official Plan is one of the most important policy documents that a council adopts.
The overall health, well-being and prosperity of people living in this region will be impacted and shaped by the goals and policies that are contained within the Official Plan.
It will guide and provide direction to landowners, business owners, developers/homebuilders and the community at large on matters such as:
- the location and extent of urban (settlement area) boundaries in each of local municipality;
- population, employment and housing projections, and corresponding land resources needed to meet these projections;
- how growth is managed for fiscal and environmental sustainability;
- housing affordability, residential intensification, and how communities are designed, serviced and built (and new lots are created);
- land uses and activities that are to be encouraged and supported in rural areas;
- agricultural land and natural heritage protection and enhancement;
- how people and property are protected from flooding and other hazards;
- climate change mitigation and adaptation;
- cultural heritage and archaeological resource conservation;
- transportation and mobility for all types of vehicles and users; and
- other policy matters and implementation tools as required to responsibly address Planning Act and Provincial Policy Statement requirements.
Why is a review being undertaken at this time of the existing County of Essex Official Plan?
In 2020, the Province of Ontario adopted a new Provincial Policy Statement. The Planning Act requires municipalities to review their Official Plan once every five years to ensure that it is up to date and consistent with the statement.
The current County Official Plan was adopted and approved in 2014, based on background work that started in 2009.
Since that time, residents of this region have witnessed and are continuing to experience the effects of fundamental changes that are taking place as a result of a changing climate, migration from other parts of Ontario and from overseas, and the changing nature of employment and how we now live our daily lives.
This Official Plan Review provides a forum for elected officials (decision makers), working collaboratively with key stakeholders and the community at large, to formulate new fiscally and environmentally responsible policies that can not only take advantage of these regional attributes, but can also respond to the opportunities, challenges and issues that lie ahead.
It should be noted that the Planning Act requires that all local Official Plans (as adopted by each of the seven Essex County municipalities) conform to the approved County of Essex Official Plan. All public works undertaken by local municipalities and by the county and all zoning by-laws adopted by each local council are also required to conform to County Official Plan.
Official Plan Review Work Program
The Official Plan Review is being undertaken in three phases, including:
Phase 1 – February 2022 to October 2022
Consultations with stakeholders, council and the community were held. Participants provided input about Essex County’s strengths, challenges and opportunities. They also addressed how the Official Plan can improve the health, well-being and prosperity of residents. The results of the consultations, as well as background research and growth analysis, are summarized in two reports produced during Phase 1.
The Background Report contains important information about:
- How the County Official Plan affects the daily lives of Essex County residents;
- The Provincial Planning Framework;
- Planning in a two-tier governance structure;
- Why the Official Plan Review is being undertaken at this time;
- How the region has changed over the last two decades;
- Settlement area changes;
- Lot creation approvals granted by the County;
- The County’s Climate Change Emergency Declaration and the County Energy Plan;
- The Healthy Places, Healthy People Statement of Principles; and
- A detailed summary of the initial round of consultations.
The Growth Analysis Report was prepared by Watson & Associates, with input provided by County planning staff, local municipal planning staff and the County planning adviser. Some of the key findings include:
- Over the next 30 years Essex County’s population is forecast to grow from 199,100 to between 268,100 and 315,000. This amounts to an average of 2,300 to 3,900 additional residents per year, compared to an average of 1,040 per year over the past 15 years;
- The county’s population is also getting older and the fastest growing segment of the population over the next 30 years will be those 75 years and over;
- An increasing demand is anticipated for medium and high-density forms of housing, including purpose-built seniors’ housing;
- Based on growth forecasts, the county will need to accommodate the addition of 990 to 1,430 households per year, compared to an average of 606 new households per year over the last 15 years; and
- The number of jobs in Essex County is expected to grow from 72,300 to between 107,900 and 124,200 by 2051.
Phase 2 – January 2023 to July 2023
- Based on the scope of the additional work that is identified in the Phase 1 discussion paper, background studies and technical reports will be undertaken in Phase 2. One of those will be completing an analysis of future land requirements based on growth projections that are generated during Phase 1.
- A Policy Options and Key Directions Report will be prepared.
- Additional workshops will be held with county council, stakeholders and the project steering committee to discuss various policy options.
- There will be a public meeting regarding the new Official Plan on April 5, 2023, at 5 p.m. in Essex County council chambers.
Phase 3 – July 2023 to December 2023
- This phase will include the preparation of the draft new Official Plan, and the presentation of the draft document to Essex County council, key stakeholders and the community.
- Workshops, open houses and meetings will be held to review and obtain feedback on the draft document.
- Comments will be sought from all local municipal councils on the plan prior to adoption.
- A draft of the Official Plan will be posted on the county’s website and notice will be given in accordance with the Planning Act requirements and public meetings will be held in advance of the new Official Plan being brought to county council for adoption purposes.
How can I get involved and stay connected in this review?
The county initiated this Official Plan Review in February 2022, with completion expected in December 2023.
Throughout the Official Plan Review process, opportunities will be provided for residents, landowners, business owners and other stakeholders to discuss the future of the County of Essex.
Opportunities will also be available to share views as to what are the key opportunities, challenges and issues facing our region and what policies and actions need to be taken as part of the county’s new Official Plan to improve the overall health, well-being and prosperity of people living and working in Essex County.
Further information will be here about ways the community can participate in surveys, virtual and in-person open houses and other meetings that will be held throughout the Official Plan Review process.
Copies of background reports, discussion papers and draft and final versions of the county’s new Official Plan document will also be posted here as they become available.
Sign up for the project email list by contacting us:
County of Essex
Attn: Planning Services
360 Fairview Ave W,
Essex, ON
N8M 1Y6
Rebecca Belanger, MCIP, RPP
Manager of Planning Services
rbelanger@countyofessex.ca
519-776-6441, ext. 1325
Daryan Branch
Senior Planner
dbranch@countyofessex.ca
519-776-6441, ext. 1329
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