- by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor
"The Official Plan is Council’s contract to our City’s residents, containing the goals, objectives and policies intended to guide land use development and growth in the City over a 20-year time horizon. The Official Plan contains goals, objectives and policies to manage and direct physical development within the context of social, economic, built and natural environmental matters in the City."
As the publisher and editor of the Owen Sound Hub, I committed to giving you the information you need to be involved and engaged with your community. From a City planning level, nothing needs your engagement more than the Official Plan (OP). And I didn't let you know about the Open House - your biggest opportunity to participate in this strange year, and I wasn't there to cover it for you. I really dropped the ball. For that, I apologize.
According to the City website, this is "an exciting opportunity for all members of the community to participate in the development of a key tool used to guide future decision-making in Owen Sound."
But last week was only the second time the public has been able to discuss this "important tool to support the City's vision" in person - and if you only heard about it at Monday night's council meeting, you were already too late to register for Wednesday's electronic Open House.
“The Official Plan is an important tool to support the City’s vision as a vibrant and thriving community that offers high quality amenities surrounded by unique natural heritage features. This process is an exciting opportunity for all members of the community to participate in the development of a key tool used to guide future decision-making in Owen Sound. Please explore this website for more information regarding public participation opportunities, background studies and research and the draft Official Plan as it is developed."
You have until tomorrow, January 29 at 4:30 p.m. to register to comment at the virtual public meeting at the beginning of the February 8 City Council meeting. That is the last scheduled public opportunity, although written submissions will still be accepted.
I understand that this has been a challenging year. Almost as soon as the first afternoon meeting to discuss the Official Plan had happened, while the consultant was still discussing how to get the input of more young people and families, the pandemic was declared.
At the Community Services Committee meeting at which the draft OP was presented, Deputy Mayor Brian O'Leary referred to that first and only meeting, saying that half the attendees were “River People” - a designation some people in the room obviously found amusing because there was laughter from people who can't be seen on the recording of the meeting. Mr. O'Leary also asked about survey responses, and whether or not we could tell where the respondents lived or if they had answered more than once. Apparently residence was one of the questions, but the software used by the City, unlike SurveyMonkey or MailChimp, can't eliminate multiple responses from the same person. At last report, the equivalent of less than 3% of the adult population of Owen Sound had given input.
At last Monday's council meeting Councillor Scott Greig said that he felt the 200-plus page draft needed more time - a special meeting and line-by-line discussion by council. This a twenty year plan. It will inform our decisions about every aspect of our lives together, and will determine how much of that decision-making we hand over to others. It deserves a more robust public conversation, and there is no rush. Grey County took years and dozens of opportunities for public engagement and revision before committing to their Official Plan.
This Official Plan was created in 2006 and last reviewed in 2012. We appear to be one year early for a ten-year review - what are we trying to lock in before the 2022 municipal election?
Here are the discussion papers that were to inform the Plan. I don't know what agencies or groups specifically received them or responded – after all, what is a discussion paper if there is no venue for discussion? Sustainability and Climate Change Housing and Affordability. Transportation and Infrastructure Land Use and Design
When a similar lack of notice and opportunity for public engagement around the Official Plan was apparent in West Grey, their council passed the following motion. “THAT following the Statutory Public Meeting of the draft West Grey Official Plan Update, an engagement and communication strategy will be developed in an effort to gather more community and council input for a revised draft Official Plan Update; that the strategy include a variety of opportunities and methods of engagement; and that staff present a report to council on January 19, 2021 with the strategy and timelines.”
I hope Owen Sound City Council will show similar wisdom and courage. I promise to let you know if they do.
Here is the recording of last Wednesday's Open House.
