2024-09-05 Essex County Council Special Meeting Notice

Purpose

Essex County Council will hold a statutory public meeting, pursuant to Section 26(3) of the Planning Act, R.S.O., 1990, as amended, for the purposes of discussing the proposed new Official Plan. The public meeting will be held as follows:

Thursday, September 5, 2024
at 6 p.m.
County of Essex Council Chambers, Civic Centre
360 Fairview Avenue West, Essex, ON, N8M 1Y6

The Public Meeting is intended to provide an opportunity for the public to offer comments regarding the draft of the new Official Plan.

A copy of the draft Official Plan, together with reports that have been prepared as part of the Official Plan Comprehensive Review, are available on the County’s Comprehensive Official Plan Review page.

Background on the New Official Plan

The long-term prosperity, health and well-being of residents living and working in Essex County will, to a large degree, be shaped by the land use, transportation, growth management, environmental, housing and fiscal policies that are incorporated as part of the County of Essex Official Plan. It is one of the most important policy documents that County Council adopts, and it contains a broad range of goals and policies that guide and provide direction to landowners, business owners, and the community at large pertaining to how growth is managed and resources are protected.

The Planning Act requires that an Official Plan conform with provincial plans or that it does not conflict with them; has regard to matters of provincial interest; is consistent with provincial policy statements; and addresses recent legislative changes. Considering the timing of the approval of the current Official Plan, the introduction of a 2020 Provincial Policy Statement and amendments to the Planning Act, R.S.O., 1990, the County has undergone a comprehensive review to prepare a new Official Plan.

Seating is limited in Council Chambers at the Essex County Civic Centre, and, as such, members of the public who wish to attend the meeting in person are required to register. One registration per person is allowed. 

On the meeting day, registered attendees will be admitted, with entry being permitted from 5:00 PM until the meeting commences at 6:00 PM. 

If the pre-registration results in seating capacity remaining, individuals may register for admittance in person on a first come first served basis on September 5, 2024, again, between 5:00 PM and the commencement of the meeting at 6:00 PM. 

There will be no overflow seating. Once the capacity limit is reached, no further people will be admitted to the Civic Centre, and will instead be invited to view the meeting from home. 

The County will be live streaming the meeting at the following link: https://video.isilive.ca/countyofessex/live.html.

 The meeting will also be broadcast by YourTV Cogeco cable.

 The agenda for this meeting is available for viewing or download on the County website.

 Everyone attending Essex County buildings or County Council meetings agrees to abide by all County of Essex policies and procedures. To review the policies and procedures, please visit the County Council page on the County of Essex website.