Oxford County - Approval of a municipality’s official plan

Instrument type: Approval of a municipality’s official plan

ERO number
019-5807
Ministry reference number
32-OP-218766
Notice type
Instrument
Act
Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990
Posted by
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Notice stage
Decision
Decision posted
Comment period
September 8, 2022 - October 8, 2022 (30 days) Closed
Last updated

This consultation was open from:
September 8, 2022
to October 8, 2022

Decision summary

A decision was made on February 8, 2024 to approve, with three modifications, Official Plan Amendment 269 to the County of Oxford Official Plan, as adopted by By-law 6437-2022. The official plan amendment, as modified, is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement and provides policy direction for agricultural land use within the County.

Location details

Site address

County of Oxford
ON
Canada

Site location details

OPA 269 applies to all lands outside of designated settlement areas within the County of Oxford. 

Site location map

The location pin reflects the approximate area where environmental activity is taking place.

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Proponent(s)

Oxford County
21 Reeve Street
Woodstock, ON
N4S3G1
Canada

Decision details

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.

 

Comments received

Through the registry

0

By email

0

By mail

0
View comments submitted through the registry

Effects of consultation

No comments were received on OPA 269 as a result of posting on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO).

Supporting materials

View materials in person

Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.

Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.

Municipal Services Office - Western Ontario
Address

659 Exeter Road
Floor 2
London, ON
N6E 1L3
Canada

Office phone number

How to Appeal

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Original proposal

ERO number
019-5807
Ministry reference number
32-OP-218766
Notice type
Instrument
Act
Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990
Posted by
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Proposal posted

Comment period

September 8, 2022 - October 8, 2022 (30 days)

Proposal details

On May 25, 2022, the County of Oxford adopted Official Plan Amendment 269 by By-law 6437-2022. The official plan amendment is now before the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for a decision in accordance with Sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act.

Official Plan Amendment 269 proposes to amend the agricultural policies, including secondary uses, farm diversified uses, agriculture-related uses, surplus farm dwellings and related definitions of the County of Oxford Official Plan.

If approved, the agricultural land use policies of Official Plan Amendment 269 would apply to all agricultural areas of the County.

Supporting materials

View materials in person

Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.

Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.

Municipal Services Office - Western Ontario
Address

659 Exeter Road
Floor 2
London, ON
N6E 1L3
Canada

Office phone number

Comment

Commenting is now closed.

This consultation was open from September 8, 2022
to October 8, 2022

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