Meeting Notice Regarding Community Improvement Plan Policies

Notice of Complete Application and Virtual Public Meeting
Official Plan Amendment – File Number OPA-03
Community Improvement Plan (CIP) Policies

Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 4 p.m.
Livestream on the County of Essex website

Purpose

Essex County Council will hold a public meeting, through virtual means, pursuant to Sections 17 & 22 of the Planning Act, R.S.O., 1990, as amended, for the purposes of amending the County of Essex Official Plan to incorporate policies that would allow for the County to participate in grant programs of the County of Essex’s seven (7) local municipalities that have Community Improvement Plans.

A Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is a tool enabled through the Planning Act that allows municipalities to provide tax assistance, grants, or loans to private property owners and tenants to assist in the revitalization of lands and/or buildings within a defined Community Improvement Project Area. CIPs are intended to encourage revitalization, support economic development, and/or stimulate development and redevelopment.

Under Section 28(7.2) of the Planning Act, the County has the ability to support local municipalities for the purpose of carrying out a CIP with grants and incentives, provided the Official Plan of the County of Essex contains provisions for policies related to making grants and incentives. The County does not have the ability to establish its own CIP.

The proposed Official Plan Amendment applies to all of the County of Essex. Therefore, a map has not been provided.

Read a background report on this issue.

Watch the presentation made to County Council on July 19, 2023

Attending the Meeting

Members of the public who want to watch the meeting can view the livestream on the County of Essex website: https://video.isilive.ca/countyofessex/live.html

There is no in-person attendance available for this meeting.

Members of the public who wish to participate during the Public Meeting and provide their comments directly to Council on the Official Plan Amendment can do so virtually and must register with the Clerk’s Office to be a delegate no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Friday, September 29, 2023. Delegations will be limited to five minutes. To register as a delegate, please complete the online Delegation Request Form for Official Plan Amendment – File Number OPA-03.

To participate virtually, you will need access to a computer or tablet with internet service or a telephone. There is no in-person attendance available for this meeting. Your application to participate as a delegate will be reviewed and you will be notified by the Clerk if your request has been approved. Only registered and confirmed delegates may bring forward presentations or information to be considered as part of the Official Plan Amendment process at the Public Meeting.

Your Input is Important

Any person may participate in the virtual Public Meeting and/or provide written or verbal representation. If you are unable to participate in the virtual meeting, you may provide written comments by submitting them to the address or email below. Please include your mailing address with your written comments.

By Mail: Rebecca Belanger, MCIP, RPP, Manager, Planning Services, County of Essex, 360 Fairview Avenue West, Essex, ON, N8M 1Y6

By Email: rbelanger@countyofessex.ca

If you wish to be notified of County Council’s decision regarding the proposed Official Plan Amendment, you must make a written request to Rebecca Belanger, MCIP, RPP, Manager, Planning Services, at the address or email shown above and such request must include the name and mailing address to which such notice should be sent.

Additional Information relating to this matter, including information about appeal rights, can be made available to the public by contacting Rebecca Belanger, MCIP, RPP, Manager, Planning Services, at rbelanger@countyofessex.ca or by calling 519-776-6441, ext. 1325.

Notice of Collection

Personal information collected as a result of this virtual public meeting is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), the Planning Act, and all other relevant legislation, and will be used to assist in making a decision on this matter. All personal information (as defined by MFIPPA), including (but not limited to) names, addresses, opinions and comments collected will be made available for public disclosure to members of the public, at the meeting, through requests and through the County of Essex website. Questions regarding the collection, use and disclosure of this personal information may be directed to the Clerk, Essex County Civic Centre; 360 Fairview Avenue West, Essex, ON, N8M 1Y6.