Grey County - Approval of an amendment to the Niagara Escarpment Plan

The Niagara Escarpment Plan (NEP) permits small scale institutional uses that serve the immediate community and provides for a gross floor area of buildings and related structures which does not exceed 500 square metres.

In the consideration for establishing a Regional Agricultural Learning and Demonstration facility, several buildings are proposed with a maximum gross floor area of 3,000 square metres consisting of a building with an office and classroom, two barns, an existing greenhouse, shed, and sugar shack. Facilities accessory to these uses are also proposed and may include both permanent and temporary amenities such as bleachers, a livestock ring, a tractor pull area, a demolition derby track, parking areas, portable washrooms, and event tents.

An amendment to the NEP is required for establishing an institutional use that exceeds the allowable gross floor area, as well as the hosting of events, exhibition and programming activities for a public purpose that can serve a wider area than the immediate community.  

Other information 

Grey County has partnered with Owen Sound Agricultural Society, Chatsworth Agricultural Society, and Bluewater District School Board to propose a Regional Agricultural Learning and Demonstration facility on County-owned lands.

The subject property is approximately 8.1 Hectares (20 Acres) in size and square-shaped with frontage on Grey County Road 18. The lands are located adjacent to the County operated Grey Roots Museum and Archives (Grey Roots), which is an identifiable landmark and public destination in Grey County. The subject property was purposefully selected to provide the Agricultural Society and the high school skills training program with historical and educational support from Grey Roots as a joint alignment in sharing knowledge about the County’s agriculture sector.

It is proposed that the subject property and Grey Roots will share infrastructure such as parking and site access, which are intended to remain primarily on the Grey Roots property to minimize impacts to the agricultural programming activities on the subject property. There is already a sharing of programming activities occurring between the two properties as the high school skills training program is currently utilizing a barn on the Grey Roots to facilitate livestock husbandry while using a greenhouse, shed and sugar shack on the subject property to carryout other course learning for the school program.

Public consultation opportunities

Information about this proposal can also be found on the Niagara Escarpment Commission’s website Niagara Escarpment Plan Active Plan Amendments - Niagara Escarpment Commission to invite input from the public.

A notice regarding the application will be communicated to each regional and municipal council within or partially within the Niagara Escarpment Plan Area.

NEC staff will also circulate notification to property owners within 120 meters surrounding the subject property, Indigenous communities, ministries, and local partner review agencies.

Pursuant to the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act, a public meeting may be held.