The County of Dufferin is…

The County of Dufferin is pleased to submit comments on the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing ('MMAH') consultation on the simplification and standardization of official plans. The comments provided by Dufferin County in the letter attached to this comment centre around the following:

Standardized Official Plan Structure and Content

1. MMAH currently proposed that natural heritage, water resources, and agricultural and mineral resources be incorporated under one section. It is our belief that each of these components should have their own distinct sections in official plans due to their critical importance to rural municipalities.

2. Dufferin County recommends that minimum lot sizes not be fully downloaded to zoning by-laws because of their importance to lot size standards for consents to sever on agricultural and rural lands.

3. The County of Dufferin recommends that the MMAH prepare a proposed structure and content for official plans in a two-tier planning system.

Limitation of Length of Official Plans

1. The County of Dufferin has no concerns with the proposed changes.

Establishment of Standardized and Permissive Land Use Types

1. The County of Dufferin has no notable concerns with the proposed changes; however, we do believe that additional clarity can be provided with respect to land use designations at the upper-and-lower-tier levels, especially in rural municipalities.

New Framework for Official Plan Updates and Conformity Exercises

1. Dufferin County supports the proposal to allow for smaller and rural municipalities to update an official plan at the next 5 or 10 year update.

Establishment of Online Portal

1. The County of Dufferin understands and appreciates the MMAH's desire to utilize an online portal given the advancing digitization of the planning profession.

Dufferin County appreciates the opportunity to comment on the consultation relating to the simplification and standardization of official plans and hopes that MMAH incorporates our suggestions.