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Notice of Open House and Public Meeting for the draft new Official Plan

Our Official Plan is a long-term plan that provides a policy framework for:      

  • making land use planning decisions
  • managing resources
  • protecting the environment
  • setting a structure for guiding growth

The purpose of our draft new Official Plan is to ensure compliance with current provincial and County of Simcoe plans, policies, and legislation, and to reflect the goals and values of the Severn community. Our draft new Official Plan will establish a planning and growth management framework for Severn until 2051. The draft new Official Plan has incorporated new and updated policies and mapping on the various focus areas identified through the Official Plan Review process, including:

  • agriculture and rural areas
  • climate change
  • cultural heritage
  • growth management
  • housing
  • natural hazards
  • natural heritage system
  • settlement area hierarchy
  • transportation
  • waste management

Status of our new Official Plan

The new Official Plan is entering its final stages. Severn will hold an Open House and Public Meeting, pursuant to Sections 26(3) and 17(16) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended, to discuss the draft new Official Plan. 

Open House

Severn will be hosting a virtual Open House to provide members of the public the opportunity to learn about the draft new Official Plan, ask staff questions, and provide comments.

The virtual presentation materials and the draft new Official Plan will be available online on September 7, 2022. Subscribe to this page to be notified by email when the new draft Official Plan is available for viewing. 

Public Meeting

A virtual Public Meeting of Council will be held on Thursday, September 29, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. At the direction of Council, meetings of Council and Committee continue to be held virtually at this time. 

To participate you can:

Comment period

Please provide written comments before October 5, 2022, to Andrea Woodrow, Director of Planning and Development by email or by mail to:

Township of Severn
PO Box 159
Orillia, Ontario
L3V 6J3

Notification of the decision

If you wish to be notified of the decision of Council on the new Official Plan, you must make a written request to Alison Gray, Clerk by email or by mail: 

Township of Severn
PO Box 159
Orillia, Ontario
L3V 6J3

Oral and written submissions - appeal

If a person or public body would otherwise have an ability to appeal the decision of the County of Simcoe as the approval authority to the Ontario Land Tribunal but the person or public body does not make oral submissions at a Public Meeting or make written submissions to Township before the proposed official plan is adopted, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision.

If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a Public Meeting or make written submissions to Township before the proposed official plan is adopted, the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Land Tribunal unless, in the opinion of the Tribunal, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public body as a party.

For more information about this matter, including information about appeal rights, contact Alison Gray, Clerk by email or phone 705-325-2315 x232.

Privacy statement

Please note that your name will appear on the agendas and minutes of the Public Meeting of Council if you provide oral or written submissions. The agendas and minutes of the Public Meeting of Council will appear on Severn’s and/or the County website as a public record of the proceedings. All postings follow the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.