Project outline

June 3, 2026

The following description explains what will be covered in the new Official Plan and the role of community consultation.

Project components

The new Official Plan will be informed by several key topic areas that reflect both local priorities and provincial requirements. These include:

planning for growth and urban structure, including where development and intensification should occur
employment and commercial lands, to support economic development and complete communities
housing, including a range of housing options and affordability
agriculture, with a continued focus on long-term farmland protection
environmental policies related to natural heritage, water resources, natural hazards and consideration for the impacts of a changing climate
infrastructure planning to ensure growth is supported by services
cultural heritage, including the conservation of built heritage and landscapes.

Public engagement

Community Visioning

Community Visioning is the first step in developing the new Official Plan and will help define the overall direction of the project. This phase will focus on gathering input from residents, stakeholders, and area municipalities on key priorities, values, and issues facing the County.

It is anticipated that the process for completing certain background studies will include additional opportunities for targeted engagement to solicit study specific feedback and input. This will help to inform the technical basis for policy updates, including revising or revisiting planning approaches as necessary to address matters that have seen policy or legislative changes (e.g., employment areas, strategic growth areas).

This additional engagement will be planned for as part of the study process for each of the particular background studies, as appropriate.

Community engagement in this stage of the project will include community workshops, an online survey, and the online comment and question form.

Under the Planning Act, municipalities are required to provide formal notice at various points in the process. If you would like to stay informed about the project you can:

Sign in when attending meetings or events
Email us a request to receive notice at OPreivew@oxfordcounty.ca
Follow this page for project updates