FAQs
- where residential, commercial, industrial, and other land uses are permitted;
- how dense development should be; and,
- how communities are structured.
- Where growth and intensification of existing uses should happen (and where it shouldn’t);
- What types of uses go where (e.g. residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, parks, etc.);
- How dense development can/should be, which also influences walkability, suitability, and infrastructure needs;
- How planning for infrastructure such as roads, transit, water, and sewers is coordinated with planning for growth;
- How agricultural areas, natural heritage systems, and cultural heritage resources are protected; and,
- How communities are structured with well connected uses and a mix of uses and housing unit types to promote objectives, such as the creation of complete communities, intensification and efficient use of land and services, increased housing choice and affordability, etc.
- How to better communicate the technical information that is contained within the Official Plan, improve accessibility and readability of the document, as well as consider options to make the document easier to maintain and administer.
- Area municipal zoning by-laws;
- County and/or area municipal guidelines and standards;
- Community Improvement Plans (CIPs);
- Community planning permit systems; and,
- Topic-specific plans and strategies
- The Official Plan guides future growth and decisions.
- Zoning controls what you can do on your property right now.
- Any actual zoning changes would happen through a separate process.
What is an Official Plan
The Official Plan guides all land use planning decisions in the County. It establishes:
It also provides direction on how infrastructure such as roads, water, and wastewater services are coordinated with growth.
In addition, the Plan includes policies to protect agricultural lands, natural heritage systems, and cultural heritage resources, while supporting the development of complete, connected, and sustainable communities.
Why are we writing a new Official Plan?
Oxford’s Official Plan is from 1995. While the document has been very effective at positively shaping growth and development in the County over the past 30 years, it has well surpassed the original planning horizon it was intended to serve and is now in need of review and update to ensure it remains current and effective.
Provincial legislation (i.e., the Planning Act) requires that Official Plans be updated every 10 years or sooner. This is to ensure conformity with provincial plans, policies, and legislation, as such we are do to review the Official Plan.
Preparation of a new Official Plan will provide opportunities to look at:
How will you implement the Official Plan?
The Official Plan is the County's long-term roadmap for how and where we will grow. It will be used every time the County reviews new development applications, prepares area-specific plans, or updates land use tools like the Zoning By-law.
The Official Plan is only the first step in achieving our Shared Vision, Values, and Future. The County can use a range of implementation tools to implement the Official Plan, helping bring its aspirations to reality. These tools include:
Will the new Official Plan affect my zoning?
A new Official Plan does not immediately change your zoning—it sets the County's long-term vision for how land should be used, while zoning bylaws are the rules you must follow today.
Your current zoning stays the same until the zoning by-law is reviewed and updated later to match the new plan. In practical terms: