Official Plan
Conformity of Local Planning Documents
Provincial legislation requires that local planning documents be in conformity with the Policy Plan and have regard to the Provincial Policy Statement. Moreover, the Region has been delegated the authority to approve local Official Plans and Plan amendments. Conformity is necessary to:
- Ensure that both local and Regional planning documents guide decision-making for severances and site specific minor Official Plan amendments;
- Meet Niagara's vision as identified in the Policy Plan;
- Achieve community goals while addressing Provincial interests;
- Increase public understanding of local, Regional and Provincial planning requirements;
- Remove confusion and uncertainty due to conflicting planning documents;
- Provide guidance to the public and the development industry in making decisions while helping to protect important community resources; and
- Assist the Ontario Municipal Board in making decisions on land use matters.
The review of new local Official Plans and Zoning By-laws provides one significant opportunity to achieve conformity with the Policy Plan. Another opportunity is the Region's responsibility for approving local Official Plans and Plan amendments as delegated from the Province. It also provides a key opportunity to ensure that the principles of Smart Growth are implemented locally for site specific development applications.
Official Plans for Thorold, Grimsby, Lincoln, Pelham, Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Port Colborne and Welland are in various stages of being reviewed. Comprehensive Zoning By-laws will be reviewed for St. Catharines, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Fort Erie and Niagara Falls. This also will involve the co-ordination of comments to ensure consistency between Regional departments.
For more information on conformity, please contact Ken Forgeron.
RESOURCES:
The Regional Niagara Policy Plan Office Consolidation, July 2007 Volume #1 and Volume #2
(When printing please note that several maps are in 11 x 17in. format).
- Regional Niagara Policy Plan (July 2007) Volume #1 - Policies
- Regional Niagara Policy Plan (July 2007) Volume #2 - Appendices
- Regional Policy Plan Amendment 187 – Environmental Policies
(approved by the Ontario Municipal Board, April 16, 2008) - amending Section 7 of the Policy Plan as set out in the Office Consolidation
Hardcopy versions with full size maps can be obtained through the department.
Printable Maps
Regional Policy Plan Amendment Application Form
