The Province of Ontario accepted the County of Brant’s new Official Plan, A Simply Grand Plan, after receiving final approval from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing on Friday, October 18, 2024.
The new Official Plan, as approved with only 35 modifications by the Minister, is final and not subject to appeal.
“We are excited to announce the approval of the County of Brant’s new Official Plan, A Simply Grand Plan, which sets the framework for how our community will grow and thrive over the next 30 years,” said David Bailey, Mayor for the County of Brant. “This plan reflects our commitment to sustainable development, ensuring that as our population grows, we are creating vibrant, connected communities that meet the needs of all our residents. I want to thank everyone who contributed to shaping this vision for the future of Brant, and we look forward to implementing these policies to build a strong and prosperous county for generations to come.”
The new Official Plan was adopted by County of Brant Council on May 30, 2023, and submitted to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing on June 15, 2023. The new plan includes provincially mandated population and job targets, a revised community structure to manage growth, and new land use policies that apply to all lands within the County of Brant. The County’s population is forecasted to grow to 59,000 people by 2051 and the new Official Plan is a long-range planning tool used to help manage growth, guide future development, including transportation and infrastructure projects, implement the County’s strategic goals and visions, and meet the community’s needs over the next 30 years.
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has made 35 minor modifications to the Official Plan. The modifications ensure consistency with the Provincial Policy Statement 2020, conform with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, and comply with applicable legislation.
Any new planning-related matters from October 18, 2024, onward will be subject to the policies of the new Official Plan. Please visit the Official Plan webpage at www.brant.ca/OfficialPlan to view the final consolidated version of the new Official Plan. County staff will now begin work implementing the policies of the new Official Plan, with a report being presented to Council in November on the next steps, and public engagement beginning in 2025.
