The Community Official Plan provides a framework for how, where and when the Township will grow. The Township’s goal is to manage growth sustainably while protecting some of our most vulnerable resources.

The Official Plan:

• lets the public know what the municipality's general land use planning policies are
• makes sure that growth is coordinated and focused on expansion and intensification within strategic growth areas
• helps all members of the community understand how their land may be used now and in the future
• helps decide where roads, watermains, sewers, garbage dumps, parks and other services will be built
• provides a framework for establishing municipal zoning by-laws to set local regulations and standards, like the size of lots and height of buildings
• provides a way to evaluate and settle conflicting land uses while meeting local, regional and provincial interests
• shows council's commitment to the future growth of the community.

An official plan amendment is a formal document that changes a municipality's official plan. Changes may be needed because of new circumstances in the community or because of requests made by property owners.

Before you apply for an Official Plan Amendment, you should talk to Township staff for advice and information. You must complete an application form, which requires information identified by the Planning Act and the municipality.

The application form outlines the requirements for submitting an Official Plan Amendment application. If you are acting as an agent for the purposes of the application, a letter of authorization is required from the registered owner of the property.

Applications are also available at the Municipal Office.

The application fee is outlined on the application form, payable at the time an application is submitted. Fees may be paid by cash, cheque or debit. If the fee is being paid by cheque, the cheque must be made payable to: “Township of Lanark Highlands”.

The application is circulated to other Township Departments and various agencies for their comments, as well as to all property owners within 120 metres of the subject site. A notice will be installed on the property briefly describing the proposal.

All correspondence will be reviewed and the Township Planner will prepare a report with a recommendation to approve or refuse the Official Plan Amendment application. The report will then be presented at a Public Meeting.

If the recommendation is to approve the Official Plan Amendment the necessary by-law will be considered at the next Council Meeting, which generally is held immediately following the Public Meeting. Council will then adopt a By-Law approving the necessary Official Plan Amendment for the specific parcel of land.

If Council approves the proposed amendment and passes a by-law, the by-law will be circulated to give interested parties the chance to appeal. A 20-day appeal period is provided for, once notice of Adoption of the By-Law has been given. If no appeals are received by the end of the appeal period, the amendment is in full force and effect.

The process for dealing with official plan amendments is the same as for an official plan by-law. If local council refuses your official plan amendment application, or if it does not make a decision within 120 days of the receipt of your application containing the prescribed information, you may appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal.