OFFICIAL PLAN
What is an Official Plan By-Law?
An official plan describes your upper, lower or single–tier municipal council's policies on how land in your community should be used. It is prepared with input from you and others in your community and helps to ensure that future planning and development will meet the specific needs of your community.
Official Plan:
Land Use Plan Map - Lavant (2.2 meg PDF file)
Land Use Plan Map - Dalhousie/North Sherbrooke (2.7 meg PDF file)
Land Use Plan Map - Darling (2.8 meg PDF file)
Land Use Plan Map - Lanark (2.4 meg PDF file)
Land Use Plan Map - Lanark Village (.8 meg PDF file)
Why do you need an official plan?
The Official Plan:
• lets the public know what the municipality's general land use planning policies are
• makes sure that growth is coordinated and meets the community’s needs
• helps all members of the community understand how their land may be used now and in the future
• helps decide where roads, watermains, sewers, garbage dumps, parks and other services will be built
• provides a framework for establishing municipal zoning by-laws to set local regulations and standards,
like the size of lots and height of buildings
• provides a way to evaluate and settle conflicting land uses while meeting local, regional and provincial
interests
• shows council's commitment to the future growth of the community.
Official Plan Review
An approved official plan can be reviewed at any time, but each local council is required to revise its official plan not less than every five years from the date the plan came into effect. This ensures the plan is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement and that it conforms and/or does not conflict with provincial plans, as required. If the plan is not consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement, or does not conform with provincial plans or conflicts with provincial plans, then the plan is expected to be updated. The five-year review is also an opportunity to ensure the official plan continues to address local priorities and changing community needs.
The Township is currently undergoing the five year review.
Notice – Public Meeting – Draft Official Plan (posted July 2)
What is an Official Plan Amendment?
An official plan amendment is a formal document that changes a municipality's official plan. Changes may be needed because of new circumstances in the community or because of requests made by property owners.
Official Plan Amendment Applications
Before you apply for an Official Plan Amendment, you should talk to Township staff for advice and information. You must complete an application form which requires information identified by the Minister and the municipality.
The application form outlines the requirements for submitting an application for an Official Plan Amendment. If you are acting as an agent for the purposes of the application, a letter of authorization is required from the registered owner of the property.
Official Plan Amendment Application
Applications are also available at the Municipal Office.
How Much will it Cost?
The application fee is outlined on the application form, payable at the time an application is submitted. Fees may be paid by cash, cheque or debit. If the fee is being paid by cheque, the cheque must be made payable to: “Township of Lanark Highlands”.
What Happens Once the Application is Submitted?
The application is circulated to other Township Departments and various agencies for their comments, as well as to all property owners within 120 metres of the subject site. A notice will be installed on the property briefly describing the proposal.
All correspondence will be reviewed and the Township Planner will prepare a report with a recommendation to approve or refuse the Official Plan Amendment application. The report will then be presented at a Public Meeting.
If the recommendation is to approve the Official Plan Amendment the necessary by-law will be considered at the next Council Meeting, which generally is held immediately following the Public Meeting. Council will then adopt a By-Law approving the necessary Official Plan Amendment for the specific parcel of land.
What Happens After the Meeting?
If Council approves the proposed amendment and passes a by-law, the by-law will be circulated to give interested parties the chance to appeal. A 20-day appeal period is provided for, once notice of Adoption of the By-Law has been given. If no appeals are received by the end of the appeal period, the amendment is in full force and effect.
Appeal Provisions
The process for dealing with official plan amendments is the same as for an official plan by-law. If local council refuses your official plan amendment application, or if it does not make a decision within 180 days of the receipt of your application containing the prescribed information, you may appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.
MEETING DATES
NOTE: All meetings are open to the Public.
None at this time.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Janie Laidlaw, Planning Assistant
613-259-2398 ext. 232