The City of Owen Sound has issued a notice of public meeting for the Official Plan Amendment No. 10 – Official Plan Update. 

In accordance with Section 26 of the Planning Act, R.S.O 1990, c.P.13, as amended (the “Planning Act”):
TAKE NOTICE that a Special Meeting of Council will be held on March 15, 2021 in order to consider the following:
Official Plan Amendment (OPA 10), an application to amend the City of Owen Sound Official Plan under Section 26 of the Planning Act.
The purpose of the Special Meeting of Council is for Council to receive public feedback and discuss the revisions to the Official Plan that may be required. Persons participating in the Special Meeting will be given the opportunity to speak. Advance registration is required. Council will consider public feedback prior to adopting an updated Official Plan.

All interested parties are invited to participate in the public meeting:
Date: Monday, March 15, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Council Chambers, City Hall
808 2nd Avenue East, Owen Sound ON, N4K 2H4

PURPOSE AND EFFECT:
The Official Plan is established through engagement with the public, agencies, and upper-tier governments and contains the vision, goals and objectives intended to guide land use development and growth in the City over a 25-year time horizon. The Official Plan contains policies that manage and direct physical development within the context of social, economic, built, and natural environmental matters in the City.

The Planning Act requires that an Official Plan be updated to ensure that it conforms with provincial plans, or does not conflict with them; has regard to matters of provincial interest and is consistent with provincial policy statements. The City Official Plan must also conform with the County of Grey Official Plan.

The existing Official Plan was approved by Owen Sound City Council on March 20, 2006, and updated by OPA #4 (10 Year Review) which was adopted by Owen Sound City Council on July 9, 2012. Taking into account the timing of the 10 Year Review, the introduction of a 2020 Provincial Policy Statement, amendments to the Planning Act, and adoption of the new County of Grey Official Plan (Recolour Grey, 2018) the City has initiated a comprehensive update to its Official Plan.

A copy of the proposed Official Plan is available on the website together with background studies, reports, and discussion papers.

PROPERTY DESCRIPTION:
The update to the Official Plan will affect all lands within the municipal boundary of the City of Owen Sound. Accordingly, no key map is provided.

COMMENTS AND PARTICIPATION:
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, you must pre-register to participate in the Special Meeting of Council.
Participation: if you wish to participate in the Public Meeting to speak to this matter, you must contact the City Clerk by Friday, March 5, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. at [email protected] or 519-376-4440 ext. 1247 to be registered to participate in the Public Meeting.
Written comments: if you wish to provide written comments at the Public Meeting, comments must be addressed to the City Clerk, and received by Monday, March 15, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.

Comments may be mailed or emailed to:
Briana Bloomfield, City Clerk
808 2nd Avenue East
Owen Sound ON N4K 2H4
[email protected]

All written comments received prior to any approval will be considered.
Any person may participate in the meeting and make oral and/or written submissions either in support of or in opposition to the proposed applications. All submissions will form part of the public record.

PUBLIC RECORD:
Personal information is collected under the authority of the Planning Act. The information collected will be used to complete the Official Plan Amendment processes, and will form part of the public record. Questions about this collection should be addressed to Briana Bloomfield, City Clerk.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
For more information about this matter, including information about appeal rights, please contact Amy Cann, Manager of Planning and Heritage by at 519-376-4440 ext. 1232 or
[email protected]. Information can also be found by visiting: www.owensound.ca/OfficialPlanUpdate

If a person or public body would otherwise have an ability to appeal the decision of  The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal but the person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound before the proposed official plan amendment is adopted, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision.

If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting, or make written submissions to The Corporation of the City of Owen Sound before the proposed official plan amendment is adopted, the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal unless, in the opinion of the Tribunal, there are reasonable grounds to do so.

source: media release, City of Owen Sound