Official Plan Housekeeping Updates

Sections 17 and 21 of the Planning Act allow a municipality to initiate its own amendments to the Official Plan. The Official Plan, called A Simply Grand Plan, 2023, sets out a community’s vision and goals for growth and development. The purpose of making technical and housekeeping changes to the Official Plan is to improve its relevance, fix small issues, and ensure it aligns with provincial policies. Regular updates maintain a responsive planning framework that meets the County's evolving needs.

This project will only include site-specific updates to properties where an error has been made in the Plan. ItContinue reading

This project will only include site-specific updates to properties where an error has been made in the Plan. It proposes general changes to County-wide Official Plan policies that will make it easier to implement the plan and better align it with Provincial and Municipal directions.

Staff are continually monitoring changes needed for the Official Plan, considering them for future housekeeping projects to be brought forward on a regular basis. This Official Plan was written and submitted to the Province in May 2023, being approved and in effect as of October 17, 2024.

The chart below contains a list of proposed changes for project that was presented to Council as information on June 10, 2025 to officially begin the project. We are asking for public feedback to help inform the policies that will be to be presented to Council in July 2025.

Summary of Proposed Changes

The key changes to be made to the Official Plan are summarized below, with further details included in Attachment 1 of Report RPT-0243-25.

Key Items	Summary of Proposed Changes
Terminology & PPS Conformity	Replace references to PPS 2020/Growth Plan with PPS 2024; update glossary and policy definitions accordingly.
Employment Areas	Update definitions to conform with PPS 2024, removing institutional/retail uses; limit to directly related industrial activities.
Affordable Housing	Revise definition to address both market-based and income-based measures.
Natural Heritage Terminology	Replace Growth Plan terms with County-specific definitions; refine mapping and buffer policies (e.g., 10 m for woodlands).
Site Plan Control	Align with O. Reg. 254/23 for areas near railways (300 m) and wetlands/watercourses (120 m).
Community Structure	Shift to 4-system model: Settlement Areas, Agricultural Lands, Natural Heritage, and Hazardous Lands.
Settlement Classifications	New categories for servicing levels: Fully Serviced, Partially Serviced, and Under Review.
Strategic Growth Areas	Introduce policy support; mapping to come in future implementation phase.
Designated Growth Areas / Built-Up Areas	Align terminology and targets with PPS 2024; supports broader tracking and application.
Study and Phasing Triggers	Add clearer guidance for required background studies and phasing prior to development.
Employment Area Types	Introduce Prestige, General, and Rural Employment Areas with distinct permitted uses.
Land Use Designations	More specific designations like “Village Open Space” and “Business Gateway” to support transparency.
Monitoring and Implementation	Add policies tied to the Growth Management Tracking model and PPS monitoring requirements.
Neighbourhoods, Corridors, Nodes	Clarify built form, density, and permitted use transitions.
Housing Needs	Add minimum targets for housing mix and tenures to support affordability and gentle density.
Cultural Heritage	Stronger protections; integrate salvage options and heritage assessment tools.
Home-Based Businesses	Add policies to permanently enable home industries and businesses.
Land Use Compatibility	Clarify compatibility requirements, especially near rail and wetlands, per updated regulations.
Hazardous Lands	Introduce a dedicated overlay system for floodplain, erosion, and human-made hazards.
Delegated Authority	Define “minor by-laws” (e.g., surplus farm dwellings) eligible for delegated approvals.
Parking	Standardize parking targets to support transition to multimodal planning.
Public Consultation	Modernize consultation tools in line with Bill 185 and the County's engagement framework.
Mixed Use / Complete Communities	Define mixed use more flexibly to include horizontal and vertical integration.
Mobile Homes / Parks	Define mobile homes and parks to clarify application in planning/zoning.
Agricultural Consents	Tighten rules on minor adjustments (max 0.5 ha) and surplus farm severances to protect farmland.
Complete Application Table	Add a reference table linking application types with required studies.
Consistency with Corporate Policy	Embed references to Climate Action, ACH Strategy, and other corporate directions.
General Housekeeping Changes	Adjustments to errors in property designations (where owners have already been informed), policy numbering, grammar, etc.

Stay Informed

News feed: The Newsfeed is where you’ll find the latest updates about this project. It helps keep you informed about progress, upcoming opportunities to participate, important decisions, and more.

Subscribe for updates and be the first to get updates. Simply add your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click ‘Subscribe'.

Share your thoughts or ask questions about the Official Plan Housekeeping Updates

County of Brant Staff aim to maintain a respectful and constructive dialogue with the public through all forms of communication. We understand and appreciate that people will have differing opinions and concerns, and welcome all feedback, questions, and comments in a respectful and constructive manner.

Please ask your question or leave your comment below. We will do our best to respond within 3 business days.