New Official Plan Update

The Town is currently reviewing the comments that have been received on the 1^st Draft of the New Official Plan, June 2022. At this time, staff anticipate bringing forward a revised 2^nd Draft of the New Official Plan for additional public consultation in December 2022. A Final Draft of the New Official Plan is anticipated to be adopted by Council in early 2023.

The 2^nd Draft of the New Official Plan will also address a number of studies and policy recommendations that were still ongoing at the time of preparing the 1st Draft of the New Official Plan, including:

• York Region’s New Official Plan, as adopted by Regional Council on June 30, 2022;
• Highway 48 Corridor Framework Plan and Recommended Policies, endorsed by Council on September 21, 2022;
• Old Elm GO (Lincolnville) Major Transit Station Area Official Plan Amendment; and,
• Natural Heritage Resources Study, as updated in August 2022;
• Town’s Preliminary Growth Management Strategy.

The following summarizes the anticipated next steps and timing, in preparing the Town’s New Official Plan:

• 2^nd Draft New Official Plan (December 2022) – Based upon the comments received to date, and additional supporting studies that have since been completed (or soon to be completed), a 2^nd Draft New Official Plan will be prepared for public and stakeholder consultation.
• Additional Public Open Houses (Tentatively December 12, 2022) – Staff will host additional Public Open Houses to present and receive comments on the 2^nd Draft New Official Plan which is tentatively scheduled for December 12, 2022. It is anticipated that both an in-person and virtual Public Open House will be held in the afternoon and evening. Further information and registration links will be here once available.
• Final Draft Official Plan for Council Adoption (Early 2023) – Based upon the additional public and stakeholder comments a Final Draft Official Plan will be prepared and brought forward to Council for adoption, which is anticipated in early 2023. The Adopted Official Plan will then be forwarded to York Region for approval.

Subscribe to our eNewsletter (see sidebar) to receive future updates on the release of the 2^nd Draft New Official Plan and notification for the upcoming Public Open Houses anticipated in December 2022.

1st Draft Town Official Plan Available for Consultation

The Town is pleased to release the first Draft of its New Official Plan for public review and consultation. The New Draft Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Official Plan, June 2022 and Draft Schedules are now available. Comments on the New Draft Official Plan can be submitted to opreview@townofws.ca.

On June 28^th the Town hosted two Statutory Public Open Houses to present and receive comments on the New Draft Official Plan. You are invited to attend the Council Public Meeting on July 6^th (details below). This meeting will provide an overview of the key policy directions and an opportunity for you to provide input that will be taken into consideration in preparing the final Draft Official Plan for Council adoption.

Virtual Public Open House Meetings

Virtual Public Open House Meetings took place on Tuesday, June 28. Recordings of the 2 p.m. meeting and the 6 p.m. meeting are now available. Information provided at each meeting was the same.

The Presentation provided at the meetings is now available. Hardcopies of this presentation are available upon request.

Virtual and In-Person Council Public Meeting

Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 7 p.m.

The Public Meeting Agenda and Staff Report for the July 6^th Council Public meeting is now available.

No decision will be made on the adoption of the Official Plan at the July 6^th Council Public Meeting. A revised Draft Official Plan will be brought forward to Council at a subsequent meeting for adoption. Sign up for our interested parties eNewsletter to receive notification of this upcoming meeting. The Statutory Meeting Notice provides further details.

The New Draft Official Plan updates the Town’s vision for the future and will ensure consistency with the Provincial Policy Statement, Provincial Plans and the Region’s new Official Plan, once approved. The new Official Plan is a long-range planning document containing goals, objectives and policies to guide land use, development and growth in the Town to 2051. The Town’s new Official Plan promotes the building of healthy, complete and sustainable communities which further the growth and economic development of the community, help protect farmland, and protect environmentally sensitive areas of the Town. It incorporates policies and mapping related to settlement area expansion, growth management, climate change, major transit station areas, housing, agriculture, provincial plans, indigenous engagement, and cultural heritage.

The New Draft Official Plan has also been informed by various supporting studies including:

• Town’s Housing Strategy;
• Commercial Policy Review;
• Natural Heritage Resources Study; and
• Highway 48 Land Use Study (will be available once endorsed by Council)

Policy Directions Report, November 2021

On November 16, 2021, Council endorsed the Policy Directions Report, and directed staff to proceed with drafting the new Official Plan as part of Phase 3. The Policy Directions Report identifies opportunities for the Town in planning for expected growth and investment, while maintaining its unique rural character. The Report presents policy recommendations that will guide the preparation of the new Official Plan. The Staff Report and consultants presentation is available here: https://whitchurch.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/147719

Ways to Participate

We need your input throughout the Official Plan Review process. There are a number of ways you can stay engaged, receive updates and provide your input:

• Sign-up for our Interested Parties email list at opreview@townofws.ca
• Read the Town’s On The Road Magazine for regular updates
• Follow us on Social Media:
  • Facebook - @WStouffville
  • Twitter - @TownofWS
  • Instagram - @TownofWS

Project Overview

The Official Plan Review is undertaken through a comprehensive review of key theme areas according to issues currently being addressed as a community. The comprehensive OPR work program includes the following phases:

• Phase 1: Visioning and Consultation – will result in a community vision and guiding principles to inform future planning directions, by establishing what the community values and how the Town is envisioned to evolve over the next 25 years.
  
  The Draft Community Vision Summary Report was presented to Council on November 3, 2020. It summarized the findings of the Phase 1 consultation activities, including a new Draft Vision Statement and Guiding Principles that will inform the policy directions of the new Official Plan.
  
  Based upon the comments received, including the Public Open House held on September 23, 2020, an updated Draft Community Vision Summary Report, March 2021 was prepared.
  
  
• Phase 2: Background Studies and Discussion Papers – will focus on data collection and the review of background information required to advance the OPR. This phase will also involve the preparation of various Discussion Papers to address the key themes related to growth management, the natural environment, healthy and complete communities, and general technical and housekeeping matters. This phase will culminate with a cursory review of the Secondary Plans to determine recommendations for a potential consolidation strategy.
  
  Two virtual Public Open Houses were held on May 6, 2021 to present the Draft Discussion Papers and receive feedback. The Open House presentation is available for download.
  
  A summary of the Phase 2 Consultations are included in the Phase 2 Engagement Summary Memo, June 2021.
  
  The revised Discussion Papers will be presented to Council on July 20, 2021 for endorsement as part of Staff Report DS-029-21.
  
  The following revised Discussion Papers and a One-Page Summary have been prepared based on the community and stakeholder consultations:
  
  
  • Planning for Growth, July 2021 (One-Page Summary)
  • Planning for the Natural Environment, July 2021 (One-Page Summary)
  • Planning for Complete Communities, July 2021 (One-Page Summary)
  • General Technical/Housekeeping Updates, July 2021 (One-Page Summary)
    
    
    
• Phase 3: Policy Development – will involve the preparation of Policy Directions Reports and the development of new and updated Official Plan policies to implement the preferred policy directions.
  
  The Policy Directions Report was endorsed by Council on November 16, 2021. The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville held Public Open Houses on Thursday October 7^th, 2021 to present and receive input on the Draft Policy Directions Report. The Open House presentation is available for download.
  
  

  Staff have now began drafting the new Official Plan which is anticipated for public consultation in early to mid 2022.
  
  

• Phase 4: Draft New Official Plan – will involve the technical writing, reviewing, evaluating, and implementing policies for the new Official Plan based on work completed to-date.