Development and planning
Official Plan Review
Stay up-to-date with news on the Town’s Official Plan Review (OPR).
Policy Planning is responsible for growth management in the Town through the Town’s Official Plan, County of Simcoe Official Plan and provincial plans. It ensures the Town’s planning documents remain in conformity with County and provincial plans, along with providing interpretations of these plans as they relate to planning applications in the Town.
Official Plan Review
The purpose of the Official Plan Review (OPR) is to equip the Town of New Tecumseth with an updated policy framework that builds on recent initiatives and enables the Town to continue thriving as it grows and changes over the next 20 years.
Regular updating of the Official Plan ensures that the vision for the Town stays responsive to current issues and conditions. The purpose of this OPR process is to conduct a comprehensive review and update to the vision, objectives and policies of the Town Official Plan and to identify the need for and an appropriate manner to address any settlement area expansion requirements.
Several changes to County of Simcoe and Provincial planning policies have occurred since the approval of the current Official Plan. The updated policies resulting from this project must conform to the Simcoe County Official Plan and Provincial planning documents, be consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement, and address local municipal and community objectives. The Provincial Planning Statement 2024 (PPS 2024) came into effect on October 20, 2024, replacing the previous Provincial Policy Statement 2020. A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe 2019 was revoked on the same date. These changes removed the requirement for municipalities to undertake a Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR). 
This OPR exercise will find a balance between ensuring that new growth and development is planned to contribute to and build upon the existing communities, while also supporting and protecting the thriving agricultural and rural areas.
