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The Blue Print | Official Plan Review

Official Plan Review

Project Update: New Staff Report Available 

Staff Report PBS.26.023 was presented at the March 17, 2026, Committee of the Whole meeting. This report advises Council of legislative changes under Bill 17 that impact the final County approval of the Town’s Official Plan 5-Year Review. 

Bill 17 introduced new provisions to the Planning Act that now require written approval from the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing before Council can adopt certain Official Plan Amendments, including the Official Plan 5-Year Review. These provisions apply to Official Plan Amendments that establish requirements for additional studies, reports, or drawings as part of a complete planning application, such as those related to subdivision, site plan, or zoning by-law amendment applications.

The Committee voted 6-0 to direct staff to submit a written request to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing seeking approval to include the new policy sections that were previously incorporated into the adopted Official Plan 5-Year Review. The Committee also directed staff to report back to Council once a decision is received from the Minister, including any required updates to the Official Plan 5-Year Review for Council’s consideration or final adoption.

Staff are currently working with the project consultant to prepare the formal request to the Minister.

The presentation begins at the 4:33:50 mark of the meeting recording.

View the Meeting Recording

On this page: 
1. Background Information
2. Phase 1 Information
3. Phase 2 Information

At the June 23, 2025, Council Meeting, Council voted in favour of adopting the Draft Official Plan 5-Year Review and authorizing staff to submit the Official Plan to Grey County for final approval. 

View By-law 2025-35     View Notice of Adoption

Staff have prepared a tracked changes version illustrating all the text modifications from the original Official Plan, and a clean version that incorporates all the text changes, along with all schedules and appendix maps. 

Updated Official Plan Document - Tracked Changes Version

Updated Official Plan Document - Clean Version

Official Plan Mapping


Background Information

In 2022, the Town of The Blue Mountains began the process of updating its Official Plan. When complete, the Official Plan will guide all future land-use decisions in the Town, including residential, commercial, and other forms of development. Policies are being developed to consider how to manage growth, housing, density and intensification standards, protection of the environment, how agricultural and natural features will be protected and more. As required by the Planning Act, the Official Plan must be reviewed and updated every five years.

What is an Official Plan?

Watch our short explainer video to learn how the Official Plan impacts you and your neighbourhood! 


Phase 1

Phase 1 of the Official Plan Update was completed in 2022, which included high-level action items, including the Official Plan vision, guiding principles, goals and objectives. Growth management and changes to housing, density, height, and character, were also developed.


Phase 2 

Phase 2 of the Official Plan Review takes a closer look at topics related to the natural environment, climate change, source water protection, rural/agricultural lands, parks, and open space, servicing, commercial/employment lands, transit and transportation, and downtown area building heights.