Official Plan 5-Year Review

The Tay Valley Township Official Plan is a legal document under the Planning Act that came into effect in January 2016. The Official Plan is a strategic planning document which guides development, environmental protection, and land use changes in Tay Valley Township for the next 20 years and beyond.  The Official Plan (OP) determines how the Township will manage issues such as: agriculture; growth; housing; water quality protection; employment; aggregates; and natural heritage conservation.

The Official Plan is required to be consistent with the provincial requirements for land use planning presented in the Provincial Policy Statement 2020.  There is also a requirement for the Township’s Official Plan to conform to the Lanark County Sustainable Communities Official Plan. 

Official Plan 

An Official Plan:

• Identifies community values and makes sure that growth and conservation are coordinated and meet the needs of various segments of the community including the elderly, youth, cottagers, permanent residents, marginalized, racialized, persons with disabilities, farmers, artists, etc.
• Informs the public on what the province, county and municipality's general land use planning policies are.
• Recognizes Indigenous rights.
• Helps all members of the community understand how their land may be used now and in the future.
• Helps decide where roads, parks, trails, and other services will be located.
• Provides a framework for establishing municipal zoning by-laws to set local regulations and standards, such as size of lots, or development setbacks from water or gravel pits.
• Provides a way to evaluate and settle conflicting land uses while meeting local, regional, and provincial interests; and,
• Shows Council's commitment to the sustainable future of the community. 

Once an Official Plan is approved, the Planning Act requires that Council revise the plan no less frequently than:

1. 10 years after it comes into effect as a new official plan; and
2. every five years thereafter, unless the plan has been replaced by another new official plan.

A primary purpose of the review is to ensures the Official Plan is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement and that it has regard to matters of provincial interest. The Official Plan Review is also an opportunity to ensure the official plan continues to address local priorities and changing community needs.

This project is being completed in consultation with Lanark County who is the approval authority for changes made to local Official Plans. In addition to broad public agency and provincial ministry consultation, the public is encouraged express their views on the Official Plan.

• Official Plan
• County of Lanark Sustainable Communities Official Plan
• 2020 Provincial Policy Statement
• Ontario Citizens Guide on Official Plans

Background documents:

• Lanark County Transportation Master Plan 
• Parks Canada Rideau Corridor Landscape Strategy 

• Planning Report - September 21, 2021 
• Presentation - September 21, 2021