OFFICIAL PLAN REVIEW AND UPDATE PROJECT

Council of the Town of Midland has initiated the review of the Town of Midland Official Plan, adopted by Council in 2002. The Official Plan Review and Update Project describes the stages and tasks in the process of reviewing the Official Plan and determining what amendments are required to update the Plan to reflect changes in the economy, changes in legislation and policy, and changes that have occurred in the Town since 2002. The following further describes the Official Plan Review and Update Project and how the residents of the Town can participate in the process.

Town of Midland Official Plan
The Town of Midland Official Plan is the main land use policy document intended to guide growth, change and development in the Town for the next 20 years. The Official Plan, adopted by Council in 2002 and approved by the Province in 2003, sets out in three maps (schedules) and 72 pages of text where land uses should occur in the Town and what policies and guidelines will impact the development of these areas. The Official Plan contains a vision of the Town addressing five main theme areas; The People, Location, Employment, The Environment and Lifestyle.

The existing Official Plan, including schedules, can be downloaded from here.

OP Review & Update

The Planning Act requires that an Official Plan Review (OP Review) must be undertaken, not less frequently than every five years, to ensure that it: conforms to, or does not conflict with Provincial plans; has regard for matters of provincial interest; and is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement.

The Midland OP Review will, among other matters as may be directed by Council, focus on:

1. Implementation of new Provincial policy initiatives such as the 2005 Provincial Policy Statement and the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe;
2. Conformity with the County Official Plan resulting from their recent Official Plan Review;
3. Growth Management, Intensification and employment and commercial land needs;
4. Review of the vision for the Town contained in the Official Plan;
5. Review and update of existing Official Plan policies to ensure ongoing effectiveness such as environmental and natural heritage planning initiatives etc.; and
6. Other 'technical' and 'housekeeping' matters.

The Work Plan for the Official Plan Review and Update Project sets out the steps, tasks and time schedule for the project. The project schedule would see the work culminate with the Town adopting an Amendment to the Official Plan in December 2009 and with the submission of the amendment to the County of Simcoe for approval.

Public Consultation and Notification
The OP Review and Update is an undertaking that will include and welcome input from all residents of the Town. The Planning Act requires a public consultation process as a way to receive input from the public and stakeholders in the preparation of the eventual amendment to the Town of Midland Official Plan. The review process will provide for a full public consultation process, including public meetings, open houses, workshops and access to key information. This section of the Town's website will also include links to Notices and Minutes for Public Meetings and/or Open Houses as they become available.

Notices of upcoming events and meetings are provided below:
Notice of Public Meeting and Presentation October 1st, 2008
Notice re Community Questinnaire for Visioning Exercise
Notice of Vision Workshops
Second Notice re Community Questionnaire for Visioning Exercise
Notice: OPRUP on hold

Throughout the Official Plan Review and Update Project, there will be ongoing publication of Notices of Public Meetings, Workshops and Open Houses on the Town's website and in the newspaper, as required by the Planning Act, and as directed by Council.

Should you wish to receive further notification by mail regarding the Town of Midland Official Plan Review, please submit your request in writing, including your name, address, postal code, telephone number and email address to:

Planning Department
Town of Midland
575 Dominion Avenue,
Midland, Ontario
L4R 1R2
P 705.526.4275
F 705.526.9971
planning@town.midland.on.ca

Background Reports
The Work Plan for the Official Plan Review and Update Project sees the development of a series of background reports to provide the technical basis for the amendments to the Official Plan. The Work Plan provides for opportunities for public review and comment on the background reports as they are released. The Background Reports that will be produced as part of the OP Project are Visioning Report, Growth Management Strategy, Natural Heritage System Review, Plan and Policy Conformity Exercise Report and Operational and Housekeeping Review. A description of each report is contained in the Work Plan for the Official Plan Review and Update Project.

The reports currently available for review and comment are:

Additional Information
Interested persons may also obtain information on the Official Plan Review and Update Project at the Town of Midland Planning Department, Municipal Building, 575 Dominion Avenue, Midland, Ontario, during regular working hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

You may direct your inquiries and/or submit your written comments or concerns to the Planning Department:

By Phone: 705-526-4275
By Email:planning@town.midland.on.ca
By Fax: 705.526.9971

Home | Site Map | Contact Us
Copyright © 2007, 2008 Town of Midland. All rights reserved.