Report before County Council on Feb 8, 2023
February 3, 2023
On February 8, 2023, County Council will receive recommended Official Plan amendments to allow additional residential units in Oxford’s five rural townships: Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Norwich, South-West Oxford and Zorra. A Council decision on the proposed amendment was deferred last October so that County staff could examine any implications from the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022(External link).
- Download the County Council agenda at www.oxfordcounty.ca/council
- Watch the Council live stream/video at www.oxfordcounty.ca/livestream
Under the Planning Act, municipalities must now generally permit up to two additional residential units on a residential property located within a settlement served by both municipal water and wastewater services, if there is adequate servicing capacity and applicable zoning requirements can be met. The Official Plan amendment proposed by the County meets the provincial requirements for Oxford’s fully serviced villages and further proposes that additional residential units be allowed in areas outside of fully serviced settlement areas-- for instance villages, hamlets, rural residential lots and agricultural properties-- subject to certain conditions.
Following any approval of the Official Plan Amendment, each Township will be required to initiate amendments to its respective zoning by-laws to reflect the amended policies.
Read the Council report: CP 2023-20 - Supplemental Report 2, Proposed Official Plan Amendment (OP 22-16-9) Additional Residential Units in Rural Areas Post-Bill 23
