Status of our new Official Plan

Our Official Plan is a long-term plan that provides a policy framework for:

  • making land use planning decisions
  • managing resources
  • protecting the environment
  • setting a structure for guiding growth

The Official Plan ensures compliance with current provincial and County of Simcoe plans, policies, and legislation, and reflects the goals and values of the Severn community. 

Our new Official Plan was adopted by Council on November 14, 2022. The new Official Plan for the Township of Severn will be submitted to the County of Simcoe for approval. As the approval authority for the new Official Plan, the County may approve, modify and approve, or refuse to approve our new Official Plan. Stay updated on the approval process by subscribing to the Official Plan Review page.

Maps and Schedules

Maps included within the Official Plan show the different land uses, functions, infrastructure and resources within the Township.

These are found within the Official Plan Schedules:

Background

Read about how we engaged our stakeholders and invited your participation.

Open House

Severn hosted an Open House on September 21, 2022, pursuant to Sections 26(3) and 17(16) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended, to discuss the draft new Official Plan. The Open House provided members of the public with the opportunity to learn about the draft new Official Plan, ask staff questions, and provide comments

Public Meeting

A virtual Public Meeting of Council was held on Thursday, September 29, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. The community was invited to register as an attendee, and to submit written comments by email. You can watch the recording of the Public Meeting on Severn’s YouTube channel.

Comment period

The comment period is now closed. Written comments were accepted until October 5, 2022, to Andrea Woodrow, Director of Planning and Development by email or by mail. 

Discussion paper

Building on our visioning sessions, we released our discussion paper for public review and comment in late 2021.  

Frequently asked questions

Review some frequently asked questions.

What's an Official Plan?
An Official Plan is the primary tool for implementing our goals and objectives. The Official Plan will establish a long-term strategy for growth, land use and development in Severn. The new Official Plan will guide all land use planning and development decisions in Severn for the next 20 years.
How long did the review take?

Over a past two years, we completed the Official Plan Review in three phases:

  1. thorough background research, including opportunities for community input
  2. preparation of a draft Official Plan
  3. finalization and adoption of the new Official Plan
What guided the preparation of the new Official Plan?

There are several planning documents that guide land use planning in Ontario, including:

  • Planning Act
  • Provincial Policy Statement
  • Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe
  • County of Simcoe Official Plan
County of Simcoe's Municipal Comprehensive Review will determine a growth management plan until 2051. This will help refine the provincial natural heritage and agricultural systems. These systems are currently defined and designated by the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
Who approves the new Official Plan?
The new Official Plan will be considered by Council and the County of Simcoe. The County’s decision is subject to appeal to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.
Will this impact the zoning of my property?
The new Official Plan may impact the zoning of your property. The Planning Act requires that we update our Zoning By-law three years after the plan is approved.
What does the new Official Plan include?

Our new Official Plan addresses the following planning and policy areas:

  • achieving sustainable development
  • delivering a sufficient supply of homes
  • building a strong and competitive local economy
  • ensuring the vitality of settlement areas and promoting healthy and safe communities
  • promoting sustainable transport
  • supporting high-quality communications
  • making effective use of land
  • achieving well-designed places
  • conserving and enhancing the natural environment
  • conserving and enhancing the historic environment
  • meeting the challenge of climate change

We also addressed the following issues:

  • shoreline development
  • affordable housing
  • accessory buildings and structures
  • second dwelling units and garden suites
  • on-farm diversified uses
  • hazard lands
  • short-term rentals
  • cannabis production facilities
  • aggregate operations and associated land use considerations
  • rural development
How can I stay informed?

We'll provide information about final approval of our new Official Plan through a range of methods and channels:

Get connected, subscribe to this page and stay informed.

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