Official Plan Review | Town of The Blue Mountains, ON

The Town has launched Phase 2 of the Official Plan Review. Eleven Background Papers will provide research and supporting data, consider previous comments received and provide options and recommendations for updating the Town’s existing policies. Engagement on the Phase 2 Background Papers and future policy development is planned for June 2023 with four Public Information Centres. A public survey will be launched and available this summer to allow for ample opportunities for participation.

Following the Public Information Centres and public survey, a Council Workshop is proposed to present the findings of the Background Papers and provide a more fulsome review of the feedback received from the public and stakeholders before policy development and refinement begins.

Please keep involved in this important community project. Throughout Phase 2, residents and stakeholders will have many opportunities to share their feedback. In addition, members of the public can share feedback directly with the Official Plan project staff at any time through the contact form at the bottom of this page.

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.

Phase 2 of the Official Plan Review will consider:
- Environment & Climate Change
- Infrastructure & Servicing
- Agricultural & Rural Lands
- Commercial & Employment Lands
- Building Heights Study
- Transit & Transportation
- Parks & Open Space
- Source Water Protection
- Cannabis Policies
- Indigenous Engagement
- Community Planning Permit System
- February 21, 2023 - PDS.23.018 Information Report – Official Plan 5 Year Review Project Update
- May 16, 2023 - PDS.23.028 - Official Plan 5 Year Review Project Update Report

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 1 - Main Goals
The main goals of Phase 1 of the Official Plan Review are:
- Conformity with Upper Tier Planning Documents
- Review of the Official Plan Vision, Guiding Principles and Goals and Objectives
- Growth Management, Housing, Density Height and Character
- General Housekeeping Updates
Phase 1 - Background Papers
Prepared in partnership with the Official Plan Steering Committee, the background papers provide information regarding key elements of the project, including:
Also available are the results of the Phase 1 Survey and the 2021 Thornbury Density and Intensification Study.
Phase 1 - Proposed Revision Documents
1. Official Plan Review - Recommendations Matrix July 2022: Provides an overview of the proposed changes, rationale for changes, and the Phase 1 or Phase 2 timing for consideration
2. The Town of The Blue Mountains Official Plan Amendment 3 - Official Plan 5 Year Review July 2022 (track changes version): Provides the technical changes to the Official Plan. This is the legal document that provides all amendments to the current Official Plan.
3. The Town of The Blue Mountains Official Plan Amendment 3 - Official Plan 5 Year Review July 2022 (clean version): Provides a clean version of the Official Plan incorporating the proposed technical amendments.
The Notice of Public Meeting listed four supporting documents. Documents #2 & #3 have been combined into Document #2 above.
Phase 1 - Survey & Results
The Town of The Blue Mountains would like to thank all who responded to the Official Plan Review Phase 1 Survey in April, 2022. 595 responses were received and the data gathered will be used to further refine the key goals and objectives of the Official Plan and its updated vision statement.
The survey was available both online and through paper copies from April 4 to April 29 and asked questions about the Town's current vision statement, resident's vision for the Town's future, key themes, goals and objectives, opportunities and concerns, neighbourhood design, growth, the environment, transportation and agriculture.
A summary of the survey results is now available.
Survey Results Survey Data
Phase 1 - Staff Reports & Presentations
- May 4, 2021 - Staff Report PDS-21-054: Town of The Blue Mountains Official Plan 5-Year Update
- July 12, 2021 - Public Meeting #1
  Notice of Public Meeting
  Public Meeting Presentation
  Recording of Public Meeting
- August 24, 2021 - Staff Report PDS-21-103 - Follow Up Report - Official Plan 5-Year Review of Public Meeting
- November 30, 2021 - Staff Report PDS-21-152 - Official Plan 5-Year Review Project Update - Terms of Reference and Committee Structure
- March 1, 2022 - Shawn Postma, Senior Policy Planner, and Councillor Paula Hope, Chair of the Official Plan Review Steering Committee, were invited to the Blue Mountain Ratepayers Association 'Town Talks' session titled 'Charting Our Future - The TBM Official Plan Review'. A presentation was followed by a Q&A session with the group. The recording can be viewed online.
- June 7, 2022 - Staff Report PDS.22.074 Official Plan 5 Year Review - Information Report
- June 1, 2022 - Public Information Centre Presentation Recording
- June 1 & 6, 2022 - Public Information Centre Presentation Slides
- June 23, 2022 - Town staff presented to the Blue Mountain Village Association. A recording of the presentation can be viewed online as well as a copy of the presentation materials.
- July 27, 2022 - A presentation was made at the Public Open House, which provided an overview of the project and the work completed to date as well as the proposed modifications to the Official Plan. The presentation material is linked below.
  Project Overview Presentation
  Proposed Modifications Presentation
- August 8, 2022 - Public Meeting #2
  Public Meeting Presentation
  Recording of Public Meeting
- September 13, 2022 - PDS.22.114 Information, Direction and Recommendation Report - Official Plan
  Attachment 1 - Official Plan Height and Housing Track Changes
  Attachment 2 - Official Plan Amendment 3 - Official Plan 5 Year Review September 2022
  Attachment 3 - Public Comments Summary for Official Plan Review Staff Report
  Attachment 4 - Official Plan Compiled Comments
Phase 1 - Public Meeting
The Town of The Blue Mountains held Public Meeting #2 for the Official Plan Review on August 8, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. The Official Plan Steering Committee is finalizing the technical changes proposed for the Official Plan Review Phase 1. The Notice of Public Meeting was sent on July 19, 2022.
1. Official Plan Phase 1 Summary Matrix: Provides an overview of the proposed changes, rationale for changes, and the Phase 1 or Phase 2 timing for consideration
2. Official Plan Amendment: 5-Year Review: Provides the technical changes to the Official Plan. This is the legal document that provides all amendments to the current Official Plan.
3. July 2022 Official Plan Clean Version: Provides a clean version of the Official Plan incorporating the proposed technical amendments.
A recording of the Public Meeting is available online. The Public Meeting can be separated into different sections as denoted in the timestamps below:
- 18:00 - Beginning of Official Plan 5 Year Review Public Meeting
- 20:10 - Reading of submitted comments by the Town Clerk
- 38:50 - Official Plan Steering Committee Presentation
- 1:16:05 - Questions from Town Council
- 2:16:50 - Public Comment Period
- 3:37:30 - End of Public Meeting
No decision was made at the Public Meeting, it was held to receive feedback and information from the public.
Phase 1 - Direction and Recommendation Report
The Official Plan Steering Committee presented an Information, Direction and Recommendation Report to Council on Tuesday, September 13, 2022.
Five options were presented in the Staff Report with Option #5 being recommended to Council. Council made the decision to proceed with Option #2, being the option to approve in principle, which is a non-binding position from this Council demonstrating Council endorsement of the intent and direction of Official Plan Amendment No. 3. The final decision on Phase 1 recommendations and Phase 2 process have been pushed to the next Council.
The Staff Report and supporting attachments are available online:
A recording of the meeting is available online.

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.

The current Official Plan was approved by Council in 2016. Click the following link to view the 2016 Official Plan document.
An official plan outlines policies on how land in the Town should be used. It is prepared with input from residents and stakeholders and helps to ensure that future planning and development will meet the specific needs of the community. Town policies are required to conform with the policies in the County of Grey Official Plan and to be consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement
To learn more, please visit the 2016 Official Plan webpage.
The Ontario Planning Act requires that a Municipality regularly update their Official Plan to remain current with County and Provincial planning documents, and to provide an opportunity to update the Plan with recent municipal direction, approved plans and other policies.
Last updated in 2016, the Town initiated the Official Plan 5-Year review process in May 2021 where Planning Staff presented Staff Report PDS.21.054 that provided early information to Council regarding process requirements, public consultation, and a preliminary list of project inclusions.
An initial Public Meeting was held in July 2021 to advise the community that the Official Plan Review process is starting up and to provide an overview of the project components and to receive initial public and agency comments. Staff presented an Information Report PDS.21.103 that provided a summary of the Public Meeting including comments received, and an updated list of project inclusions. Council provided further direction at this time to provide additional information on the Project Framework and to complete the Project Terms of Reference, as well as the Terms of Reference for a Steering Committee and Working Group.

What is an Official Plan?

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

Want to Get Involved?

This webpage will be updated throughout the project's life cycle and will share key information, including public engagement opportunities, project materials, and important documents to keep the community informed. Community members and members of the public can also keep engaged by subscribing to this project's webpage for regular project updates.