Official Plan Review

The Town of The Blue Mountains would like to advise residents that the Recommendation Papers for Phase 2 of the Official Plan Review have been posted. In addition, the Statutory Public Meeting and Statutory Open House have been scheduled for this Fall to provide public engagement and comment opportunities.

Statutory Open House & Public Meeting
The Statutory Public Open House is scheduled for Monday, September 23, 2024 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., with the Statutory Public Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. For more information, please review the Notice of Open House & Public Meeting.

Official Plan Revision Documents

The updated Official Plan document with tracked changes is now available for public review. All updates completed in Phase 1 are shown in red underline and red strikethrough. All updates completed in Phase 2 are shown in blue underline and blue strikethrough. A clean version (without tracked changes) is also linked below.

Updated Official Plan Document

Updated Official Plan Document - Clean Version

Official Plan Mapping

Recommendation Papers

The Recommendation Papers summarize the proposed changes to the Official Plan by theme. Town Staff and the project consultants determined each recommendation after considering comments received through the public engagement process.

There are seven Recommendation Papers:

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

Phase 2 of the Official Plan Review project is now underway. Phase 1, completed in 2022, considered high-level action items, including the vision, guiding principles, goals and objectives. Phase 2 allows a closer look at critical topics that emerged through this process to develop policies to guide future land-use decisions in the Town.

Comments and feedback throughout the project can be shared directly with the Official Plan project staff at any time through the contact form below.

Submit a Comment

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!

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.
The Official Plan Steering Committee has completed Phase 1 of the Official Plan Review. At the September 13, 2022 meeting, Council approved Phase 1 in principle, which is a non-binding position endorsing the intent and direction of Official Plan Amendment No. 3, with the final decision being deferred to the next term of Council.

View the current 2016 Official Plan

Official Plan Amendment No. 3

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
The Background Papers will provide research and supporting data, consider previous comments received and provide options and recommendations for updating the Town’s existing policies. They serve as a starting point for discussions and do not preclude further analysis or other policy update recommendations as the process continues.
Public workshops seeking input on Phase 2 of the Official Plan Review project were scheduled throughout November. These workshops engaged the public by taking a closer look at critical topics as they relate to future land-use decisions in the Town. There were two types of workshops: large-format sessions and drop-in sessions.
The large-format sessions provided an overview and considered all the Background Paper topics. The first hour included an overview of the Background Papers presented by project consultants from SGL Planning & Design Inc., followed by a Q&A period led by Mayor Andrea Matrosovs. During the second hour, breakout tables were available for each topic with presentation boards and a facilitator.
- #1 - Environment, Climate Change, Agriculture & Parks Workshop
  Saturday, November 4, 9:30am - 12:00pm
  Town Hall, 32 Mill Street, Thornbury & Virtual
  This workshop will consider policy updates to Environment and Climate Change, Agriculture and Rural Lands, Parks and Open Space, Source Water Protection and Cannabis Facilities.
  Watch the meeting recording here.
- #2 - Infrastructure, Transportation, Commercial & Indigenous Engagement Workshop
  Thursday. November 16, 2:00 - 4:30pm
  Town Hall, 32 Mill Street, Thornbury & Virtual
  This workshop will consider policy updates to Infrastructure and Servicing, Transit and Transportation, Commercial Employment Lands, Indigenous Engagement and the Community Planning Permit System.
  Watch the meeting recording here.
- #3 - Growth, Density, Housing, Building Height, Character and Community Design
  Thursday, November 30, 2:00 – 5:00pm
  Town Hall, 32 Mill Street, Thornbury & Virtual This workshop will provide a refresher on the Phase 1 topics of Growth Management, Housing and Density and consider policy updates to Housing Needs Assessment, Building Height, Character and Community Design Guidelines.
  Watch the meeting recording here.
The Drop-in Sessions provided a more informal opportunity for residents to attend and discuss all Official Plan topics with Town staff and project consultants from SGL Planning & Design Inc. Breakout tables were available for each topic with presentation boards and a facilitator.
- Ravenna Hall Drop-in Session
  Wednesday, November 8, 12:00 - 4:00pm
  Ravenna Hall, 628299 Grey County Road 119, Ravenna
- Marsh Street Centre Drop-in Session
  Saturday, November 18, 12:00 - 4:00pm
  Marsh Street Centre, 187 Marsh Street, Clarksburg
- Craigleith Community Centre Drop-in Session
  Saturday, December 2, 9:30 am – 12:30pm
  Craigleith Community Centre, 132 Lakeshore Road, Craigleith
Phase 1 - Survey & Results
The Town of The Blue Mountains would like to thank all who responded to the Official Plan Review Phase 2 & Community Design Survey. 603 responses were received and the data gathered will be used to guide decision-making when it comes time for policy writing.
The survey was available both online and through paper copies from July 29 to August 13, 2023. It sought input regarding community design elements, including character and design, community services, housing, climate change, parks, trails and open space.
View the survey report summarizing the results below:
Survey Report
The Recommendation Papers summarize the proposed changes to the Official Plan by theme. Town Staff and the project consultants determined each recommendation after considering comments received through the public engagement process.
- 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
- August 15, 2023 - PDS.23.078 - Official Plan Review Council Working Group - Terms of Reference
- October 17, 2023 - PDS.23.104 - OP Update: Public Engagement, Survey Results, Background Papers Update
- January 15, 2024 - PDS.24.014 - Official Plan Review Update - Summary of Public Engagement Sessions and Project Next Steps
- May 27, 2024 - PDS.24.084 - Official Plan 5 Year Review Update
- August 27, 2024 - PDS.24.115 - OP Update – Next Steps Fall 2024
- October 1, 2024 - Official Plan Review Public Meeting Presentation