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:
- Official Plan Policy Text
- Schedule A – Settlement and Land Use Structure
- Schedule B – Land Use North
- Schedule C – Land Use South
- Schedule D – South of Division Road Secondary Plan Area
- Schedule E - Transportation
- Schedule F – Overlays
- Schedule G – Source Water Protection
- Schedule SA1 – Settlement Areas 1
- Schedule SA2 – Settlement Areas 2
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:
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| What guided the preparation of the new Official Plan? |
| There are several planning documents that guide land use planning in Ontario, including:
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.
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| 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:
We also addressed the following issues:
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| 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. |
Subscribe to this page
Select the “Subscribe to this page” button located to the right of the page. You'll receive an email notification every time we update the content for this page. This is an easy way to stay informed.