Greenstone - Approval of a municipality’s official plan

The new Official Plan (OP) for the Municipality of Greenstone adopted on January 31, 2022, by By-law Number 22-15 was approved as modified on November 14, 2022.

On March 30, 2022, the 120-day time period for this official plan was suspended as per Bill 109, More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022.

Ten (10) modifications were required to ensure that the Official Plan has regard for provincial interests as set out in Section 2 of the Planning Act and to ensure consistency with the 2020 Provincial Policy Statement (PPS). The new Official Plan provides appropriate localized policy direction for the management and protection of water resources, endangered species and wildlife habitat, and environmentally sensitive areas. The OP also includes policies to guide waste management, and manage the risks associated with various natural hazards.

Of the ten (10) modifications, five (5) are specifically related to the environment:

• Modification no. 2 ensures consistency with OMAFRA’s Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) guidelines for setback distances between land uses and livestock facilities (as associated with agricultural functions);
• Modification no. 3 ensures consistency with MECP’s standards (D-Series land use planning guidelines) and requires a minimum lot size of 1 hectare  for shoreline residential lots on private services;
• For consistency with policies 1.6.6.5 and 1.6.6.6 of the PPS and the Safe Drinking Water Act, Modification no. 4 clarifies references to the Act and ensures the correct form of the letters for hauled sewage;
• Modification no. 6 ensures that official plan policy is consistent with the new direction of the Endangered Species Act;
• Modification no. 7 replaces official plan flood hazard policy with wording that clarifies areas where development in not permitted due to natural hazards.

Other Information

Pursuant to subsections 17 (36.5) and (38.1) of the Planning Act, this decision is final and not subject to appeal.