Oxford County - Approval of a municipality’s official plan

Decision Details

A decision was made on February 8, 2024 to approve, with three (3) modifications, Official Plan Amendment 269 to the County of Oxford Official Plan, pursuant to Sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act by By-law 6437-2022. Notice of this decision was issued on Month/Day/Year to the County of Oxford. 

The adopted Official Plan Amendment was reviewed for consistency with the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) 2020 and to have regard for matters of provincial interest outlined in the Planning Act. Official Plan Amendment 269 deletes and replaces Section 3.1 "Agricultural Land Resource", and updates Section 6.1, "Definitions" of the County of Oxford Official Plan. There are no mapping changes associated with this official plan amendment.

Official Plan Amendment 269 provides local policy direction for both the development and the long-term protection of prime agricultural lands within the County of Oxford. This includes policies to guide on-farm diversified uses, agricultural related uses, non-agriculture related uses, lot creation, among other activities.

Three (3) modifications were required to ensure that the Official Plan Amendment 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). These modifications are related to the provision of additional residential units on agricultural lots, lot creation, and the process of evaluating settlement area boundary expansion in prime agricultural areas.  

Modification No. 1 supports PPS policy 1.4.3 (b) by strengthening the policies related to the creation of additional residential units in prime agricultural areas by ensuring consistency in the language used within the Official Plan policies that pertain to additional residential units.  

Modification No. 2 ensures consistency with the PPS by removing policy wording that would allow for the re-establishment of a previously existing non-farming residential lot which is contrary to PPS policy 2.3.4.1.

Modification No.3 ensures consistency with PPS policies 1.1.3.8, 2.3.1, and 2.3.5.1 by clarifying that the information the County requires in an agricultural impact assessment is also required when removing lands from the prime agricultural area to create a new or expanded settlement area.

Pursuant to subsection 17(36.5) and (38.1) of the Planning Act, this decision is final and not subject to appeal. Accordingly, Official Plan Amendment 269 to the County of Oxford Official Plan, as approved with modifications by the Minister, came into effect on Month/Day/Year.

The new Official Plan Amendment applies to all lands within the County of Oxford that are outside of a designated settlement area.