Niagara-on-the-Lake town council is one step closer to implementing a new official plan, set to be in place next October.
During Tuesday’s committee of the whole planning meeting, councillors voted to receive an update on the official plan, including a proposed work plan to guide the process for revisions and approval.
Coun. Sandra O’Connor suggested an amendment to include input from each of the town’s advisory committees on their respective sections of the official plan, which was added.
The town’s planning director, Kirsten McCauley, was pleased with the suggestion.
“It’s going to be part of an overall engagement strategy that will be further detailed in a future report that we’re proposing,” she said.
Coun. Gary Burroughs asked if the update could be completed before the fourth quarter.
“I know we’ve hired staff to deal specifically with the official plan,” he said.
McCauley said there has been discussion about the timeline and staff will continue to bring the plan forward as soon as possible, but the October deadline is “realistic.”
“In order to do all of the engagement that we’re hoping to do with the advisory committee, stakeholders, public engagement in general, we’ve identified that as a timeline,” she said.
Burroughs followed up and asked if staff intend to bring back contextual zoning with the new plan, as was had before 2015.
Zoning will be discussed in depth during a zoning bylaw review and that would be the appropriate time to discuss it, McCauley said.
The two zoning bylaws will be reviewed and consolidated into a single, comprehensive zoning bylaw that is updated in conformity with the official plan, she said.
“We will look at all of the options, including contextual zoning,” McCauley said.
Coun. Wendy Cheropita questioned McCauley on whether or not town staff is prepared for March 31, when the region no longer has responsibility for regional planning.
Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa clarified that there is still planning application work that has to be done around infrastructure that the region will be involved with.
“We are prepared and ready for that shift to take place,” McCauley said.
The shift will not affect the Planning Act in terms of planning approvals for different or consultation requirements, she said.
Coun. Andrew Niven asked if the new plan will be more flexible in terms of accommodating changes.
“We will work toward that as we go through the process,” McCauley said, citing a number of provincial changes since 2019.
Council will discuss the official plan again in February during a workshop on the engagement strategy and detailed work plan.
