Kincardine council received a presentation on the updates made to the Bruce County Official Plan.
Land Use Planning Manager Monica Walker-Bolton shared the changes with council during their meeting on October 10th.
“Much of the work in preparing the plan was through amendments to the existing Official Plan,” she says. “Including additional residential units policies, agricultural policies, a housekeeping amendment, the Growth Management and Servicing Policy – which was a standalone amendment, and the Implementation Policy amendment.”
Other policies from the existing plan, according to Walker-Bolton, continue to be relevant.
The updates to the OP are divided into six parts.
The first five parts layout the vision, growth forecast, county-wide policies, policies for designations, and implementation policies.
“The province approved the county-wide growth forecast in August,” she explains. “The province regularly issues new forecasts, and we well monitor growth relative to these forecasts.”
Part of the update includes wildlife habitats, including those for endangered and threatened species.
Walker-Bolton also adds that it’s also important to work with First Nations, and with Bruce Power when it comes to designating and delegating natural heritage sites.
“We have shown that there is continuity of natural features between the county and Saugeen Ojibway Nation, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, the national parks, and the Bruce Power site. However, the Plan does not assert any jurisdiction in these areas.”
The sixth part, she says, is being compiled by county staff, and will include site-specific policy amendments that need to be carried from the Official Plan to the updated version.
The county’s planning team held open house events throughout the county to get feedback from residents, and is also accepting feedback through planthebruce.ca.