This consultation was open from:
July 12, 2024
to August 11, 2024
Decision summary
A decision was made on September 5, 2025, to approve, in part, Norfolk County Official Plan Amendment 163, with modifications, as adopted by By-law 2024-48. Official Plan Amendment 163 updates policies and land use designations to comply with the Planning Act and to be consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement.
Location details
Site address
Norfolk County
Canada
Site location details
The proposed official plan amendment applies to all lands within Norfolk County.
Site location map
The location pin reflects the approximate area where environmental activity is taking place.
View this location on a map opens link in a new windowProponent(s)
Norfolk County
50 Colborne St. S.,
Simcoe,
ON
N3Y 4H3
Canada
Decision details
A decision was made on September 5, 2025 to approve, in part, Norfolk County Official Plan Amendment 163 (OPA 163), as adopted by By-law 2024-48, subject to eleven (11) modifications. A decision on nine (9) matters is withheld.
The adopted OPA 163 represents the first phase of Norfolk County’s official plan update, setting out a long-term growth management strategy for the county. Official Plan Amendment 163 implements a growth strategy for the urban communities in Norfolk County by amending urban area boundaries, amending land use designations, and amending and adding site-specific policies.
The adopted OPA 163 was reviewed for consistency with the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024 (PPS) and matters of provincial interests set out in the Planning Act.
Eleven (11) modifications have been made by the Minister to ensure that OPA 163 is consistent with the policies of the PPS and complies with applicable legislation. A decision has been withheld on nine (9) matters that are inconsistent with the settlement area boundary expansion policies of the PPS.
Pursuant to subsections 17 (36.5) and (38.1) of the Planning Act, this decision is final and not subject to appeal. Accordingly, OPA 163, as modified and approved in part by the Minister, came into effect on September 6, 2025.
Effects of consultation
As a result of public consultation on OPA 163, the Ministry received a total of sixty-nine (69) comments through the Environmental Registry of Ontario, and nine (9) additional comments through email to Ministry staff.
Many of the comments received through the public consultation process expressed concerns regarding settlement area boundary expansions, citing the impacts on prime agricultural land, the need for infrastructure upgrades to support the expansions, and the need for additional studies to be conducted to support the expansions. Some comments received through the public consultation process were supportive of the settlement area boundary expansions.
All comments reviewed were taken into consideration, prior to a decision being made.
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.
659 Exeter Road
Floor 2
London,
ON
N6E 1L3
Canada
How to Appeal
Appeals are not allowed
This instrument type cannot be appealed. Learn more about our consultation process (https://ero.ontario.ca/page/consultation-process).
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Contact
David Stubbs
659 Exeter Road
Floor 2
London,
ON
N6E 1L3
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
On May 22, 2024, Norfolk County adopted Official Plan Amendment 163 pursuant to sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act by By-Law 2024-48. Official Plan Amendment 163 is now with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for review.
The adopted Official Plan Amendment 163 represent the first phase of the County’s official plan update, setting out a long-term growth management strategy for the county. Official Plan Amendment 163 implements a growth strategy for the urban communities in Norfolk County by amending urban area boundaries, amending land use designations, and by amending and adding site-specific policies.
The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing is the approval authority under the Planning Act for Official Plan Amendment 163. The decision of the Minister on this official plan amendment is final and is not subject to appeal.
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.
659 Exeter Road
Floor 2
London,
ON
N6E 1L3
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from July 12, 2024
to August 11, 2024
Connect with us
Contact
David Stubbs
659 Exeter Road
Floor 2
London,
ON
N6E 1L3
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
69By email
9By mail
0