Town of Pelham - Approval of a municipality’s official plan

On June 24, 2025, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing received a complete application from the Town of Pelham for approval of its new official plan (By-law 28-2025), which was adopted by the Town of Pelham’s municipal council on May 21, 2025.

The Ministry will review the matter for consistency and conformity with applicable provincial land use policies and plans and will consider all feedback received before presenting any potential modifications to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for a decision in accordance with sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act.

The More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 (Bill 23) made changes that resulted in the designation of Niagara Region as an upper-tier municipality without planning responsibilities. This change took effect on March 31, 2025. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is now the approval authority for new officials plans and official plan amendments adopted by lower-tier municipalities within Niagara Region in accordance with section 26 of the Planning Act, and amendments addressing policies required in connection with a protected major transit area.

The new official plan, once approved, will replace the existing plan, which came into effect in July 2014. The new plan is intended to guide growth and physical (land use) change across the Town of Pelham to the 2051 planning horizon. The proposed official plan will be reviewed for consistency with the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024, Greenbelt Plan, Niagara Escarpment Plan, and matters of provincial interest as expressed in the Planning Act, and the Ministry will consider all feedback received before presenting any potential modifications to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for a decision in accordance with section 17 of the Planning Act.