| Township
of Whitewater Region
Official Plan Policy
Review |
Introduction
The Township
of Whitewater Region
has initiated a
three-phase work
plan for an Official
Plan Policy Review.
The Three Stages
of the Work Plan
are summarized
as follows:
Stage
1: Background
Review/Issues
Analysis
- Background
Data Collection
- Preliminary
Issues
Review
- Visioning
- Issues
Report
- Goals,
Objectives
and Actions
Report
- Public
Consultation
Stage
2: Draft Policy
Preparation
- Draft
Goals,
Objectives and
Policies
- Agency
Circulation
- Public
Consultation
Stage
3: Formal Public
Approval
- Formal
Council Public
Meeting
under the Planning
Act
- Formal
Adoption
and Approval
Process
Stage
1: Background
Review and Issues
Analysis of the work
plan is under the
guidance and direction
of a project Steering
Committee. This Stage
is a six (6) month
work plan to be carried
out over the time
period from February
to July, 2006. At
the end of Stage
1, the Steering Committee
will recommend goals,
objectives and policy
approaches to be
addressed in Stage
2: Draft Policy Preparation
and Review. Council
will decide on whether
to proceed with a
new Township Official
or an Amendment to
the County Official
Plan to implement
the recommendations
of Stage 1 of the
Work Plan. The role
of the Steering Committee
in Stage 2 of the
Work Plan will also
be reviewed by Council
at that time. |
|
| Stage
1 Work Plan
The Stage
1 will include
the following steps:
- Background data
collection:
Including such
matters as physical
environment, built
environment, community
services, provincial
interests, emerging
land use and planning
trends, and population
trends.
- Preliminary
Issues Report:
Identifies a
preliminary list
of issues based
on background data
collection and
consultations with
the Steering Committee.
- Visioning: A
visioning session
will be held to
with the Steering
Committee to review
the existing community
profile and emerging
trends, and future
development scenarios
leading to the
development of
a vision for
the Whitewater
Region Community.
- Public
Meeting: To obtain
community input
on the vision
and preliminary
list of issues.
- Issues and Options
Report: Options
would be prepared
to address the
identified issues.
The options would
be developed
in consultation
with the Steering
Committee.
- Goals,
Objectives and
Actions Report:
Goals and
objectives would
be developed
based upon the
Community Vision.
Recommended actions
to address the
identified issues
would be drafted.
- Public
Consultation:
The recommended
goals, objectives
and policy approaches
to address identified
issues would
be presented to
the public.
|
|
| What
is an Official Plan? |
An official
plan describes your local or
county or regional council’s
policies on how land in your
community should be used. It
is prepared with input from
you and your fellow citizens
and helps to ensure that future
planning and development will
meet the specific needs of your
community.
An
official plan deals mainly with
issues such as:
- where new housing, industry,
offices and shops will go
- what services like roads,
watermains, sewers, parks
and schools will be needed
- when and in what order
parts of your community will
grow
Why
do you need an official plan?
Your municipality’s
official plan:
- lets the
public know what the municipality’s
general land use planning
policies are
- makes
sure that growth is coordinated
and meets you community needs
- helps
all members of your community
understand how their land
can be used now and in the
future
- helps
decide where roads, watermains,
sewers, garbage dumps, parks
and other services will go
- provides
a framework for setting local
regulations and standards
like the size of lots and
height of buildings
- provides
a way to evaluate and settle
conflicting land uses while
meeting local, regional and
provincial interests
- shows
your council’s commitment
to the planned growth of your
community
The
Township of Whitewater Region
has adopted the County’s
Official Plan that was approved
with modifications by the Minister
of Municipal Affairs and Housing
on June 16, 2003.
What
is a zoning by-law?
A zoning by-law
controls the use of land in
your community. It states exactly:
- how land
may be used
- where
buildings and other structures
can be located
- the types
of buildings that are permitted
and how they may be used
- the lot
sizes and dimensions, parking
requirements, building heights
and setbacks from the street
An official
plan sets out your municipality’s
general policies for future
land use. Zoning by-laws put
the plan into effect and provide
for its day-to-day administration.
They contain specific requirements
that are legally enforceable.
Construction or new development
that doesn’t comply with
the zoning by-law is not allowed,
and the municipality will refuse
to issue a building permit.
Our municipality
has three comprehensive zoning
by-law that divides the municipality
into different land use zones,
with detailed maps. The by-law
specifies the permitted uses
(e.g. commercial or residential)
and the required standards (e.g.
building size and location)
in each zone. We also have free-standing
zoning by-laws that cover only
certain developments or subdivisions.
Why
do you need a zoning by-law?
A zoning by-law:
- implements
the objectives and policies
of the municipality’s
official plan
- provides
a legal way of managing land
use and future development
- protects
you from conflicting and possibly
dangerous land uses in you
community.
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