Notice of Public Meeting - April 9, 2024

COUNTY OF RENFREW - NOTICE OF APPLICATION AND PUBLIC MEETING

In the matter of Section 17 and 22 of the Planning Act, the County of Renfrew hereby gives NOTICE OF THE FOLLOWING:

i) Proposal to amend the County of Renfrew Official Plan (Official Plan Amendment 44)
ii) A public meeting regarding an application for an amendment to the County of Renfrew Official Plan.

Subject Lands The Official Plan amendment affects lands throughout the entire County, therefore a key map or description of the affected lands is not provided.

Public Meeting A public meeting to inform the public of the proposed Official Plan Amendment will be held on April 9, 2024 at 9:30 am at the County of Renfrew Administration Building, 9 International Drive.

The meeting may be viewed on the County of Renfrew’s YouTube channel; however participation requires in-person attendance at the meeting.

Proposed Official Plan Amendment
The purpose and effect of the proposed Official Plan Amendment is to introduce alternative notice policies for Planning Act applications by deleting the wording in Section 17.18 Public Consultation and replacing it with new Public Consultation wording.

With the announcement that Metroland is shutting its print division, it has left the County of Renfrew (and local municipalities) without a print paper that reaches the public to satisfy the Planning Act requirement for circulation. The Planning Act allows for local alternatives for providing notice if the Official Plan contains policies specifying details of the method of notice. This amendment would introduce the required policies to allow municipalities to utilize “alternative notice” provisions under the Planning Act. Alternative notices may include any or all of the following:

1) Personal service or prepaid first class mail;
2) Newspaper notices (Print or E-version);
3) E-mail;
4) Public notice signs;
5) Surveys, electronic or mail-out;
6) Neighbourhood Open Houses and/or Public Information Centres;
7) Neighbourhood Working Groups or Focus Groups;
8) Information meetings;
9) Statutory Public meetings;
10) Website or internet engagement platforms (e.g. ZenCity); and/or;
11) Any other methods as deemed necessary by the approval authority and established by amendment to this Plan.

Additional information regarding the Official Plan Amendment is available for inspection at the County of Renfrew Administration Building during regular office hours.

If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the County of Renfrew before the proposed Official Plan amendment is adopted by the County of Renfrew, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision of the County of Renfrew to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting, or make written submissions to the County of Renfrew before the proposed Official Plan amendment is adopted by the County of Renfrew, 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 the public body as a party. 

If you wish to be notified of the adoption of the proposed Official Plan amendment, or of the refusal of a request to amend the Official Plan, or for further information, you must make a written request to:

Lindsey Bennett-Farquhar, MCIP, RPP, Senior Planner
lbennett@countyofrenfrew.on.ca
County of Renfrew
9 International Drive
Pembroke, ON K8A 6W5
(613) 735-7288, ext. 477

NOTE: One of the purposes of the Planning Act is to provide for planning processes that are open, accessible, timely and efficient. Accordingly, all written submissions, documents, correspondence, e-mails or other communications (including your name and address) form part of the public record and will be disclosed/made available by the County to such persons as the County sees fit, including anyone requesting such information. Accordingly, in providing such information, you shall be deemed to have consented to its use and disclosure as part of the planning process.

Dated at the County of Renfrew this 5th day of March, 2024.

Lindsey Bennett-Farquhar, MCIP, RPP
Senior Planner
County of Renfrew