Official Plan and Official Plan Review

The Draft Official Plan (December 2025) is now available for review and comment. Please refer to the Open House and Public Meeting Notice dated November 6, 2025, for information including meeting details and/or how to provide comments. 

Open House - December 17, 2025

The Open House material is now available. Please review the Open House Meeting Agenda Package for the information boards, presentation, draft Official Plan (December 2025) and comment sheet. The items are also provided separately below for ease of reference:

1. Information Boards 
2. Presentation 
3. Draft Official Plan - December 2025
4. Comment Sheet

The Open House is being held to provide information to the public and to receive comments on the proposed Draft Official Plan.

The Open House will be held in a hybrid format, with both in-person and remote participation available. Registration is required for those wishing to attend remotely; the Zoom registration link is available at the following link: Open House Registration Link

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Open House.

There will be an opportunity for members of the public in attendance in-person to view boards available in the Council Chambers and to meet with the Township Policy Planning Consultant Debbie Vandenakker (Planscape) from 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. prior to the presentation start time.

It is anticipated that the Open House will conclude by 6:00 p.m.; however, the meeting may end earlier at the discretion of the Township.

Please review the agenda for additional details. 

Notice of Open House and Public Meeting

In accordance with Sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act, a Statutory Open House and Public Meeting are being held regarding the proposed new draft Official Plan for the Township of East Garafraxa.

An Official Plan is a legal document required by the Province through the Planning Act that sets out the municipality’s long-term land use strategy for growth and development.

This Notice is being given in accordance with Planning Act requirements. A final recommendation on the new Official Plan will not be presented until after the Township Open House and Public Meeting and all technical comments have been received.

DATE AND FORMAT FOR THE OPEN HOUSE AND PUBLIC MEETING
The Open House and Public Meeting dates and times are as follows:

OPEN HOUSE DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.
PUBLIC MEETING DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.

The Open House and Public Meeting will be held in a hybrid format, with both in-person and remote participation available. Registration is required for those wishing to attend remotely. The Zoom registration links will be posted on the Township website calendar on the applicable meeting dates.

Both meetings will be held at the Township Administration Office located at 065371 Dufferin County Road 3, Unit 2, East Garafraxa, ON L9W 7J8. 

Any person may participate in the Open House and Public Meeting or make written or oral representation either in support of or in opposition of the proposed Official Plan.

Council will consider all written and oral submissions regarding the draft Official Plan and will provide any person attending the Open House and Public Meeting the opportunity to be heard, as required under the Planning Act.

Please refer the full Notice of Open House and Public Meeting dated November 6, 2025 for additional information including how to provide comments. 

Introductory Workshop

An Introductory Workshop was held on September 17, 2025, minutes for the meeting can be found at the following link and the presentation is available below. 

• Meeting Presentation - Official Plan Introductory Workshop September 17, 2025

Notice of Adoption of Official Plan Amendment to the Township of East Garafraxa Official Plan 

Township File: OPA No.11 (Application File: OPA2-25)

Applicants: Charlotte Lewington and Hugh Handy, GSP Group Inc.

Subject Lands: 101055 10 Sideroad, Concession 9, West Part of Lot 11, Part 1 on Plan 7R-6906 (formerly 101089 10 Sideroad)

TAKE NOTICE that Council of the Corporation of the Township of East Garafraxa passed By-Law No. 4-2026 on the 27th day of January 2026 pursuant to Sections 17 and 21 of the Planning Act, R.S.O., 1990, as amended, being a by-law to adopt Official Plan Amendment No. 11 to the Township of East Garafraxa Official Plan. The amendment applies to the subject lands 101055 10 Sideroad, Concession 9, West Part of Lot 11, Part 1 on Plan 7R-6906 (formerly 101089 10 Sideroad).

AND TAKE NOTICE that through the circulation and review of the amendment to the Township of East Garafraxa Official Plan, the Township received eight (8) written submissions from agencies, with no concerns or objections to the application. No written comments were received from the public, and two (2) oral comments were received at the Statutory Public Meeting held on August 26, 2025. Council considered all the submissions received with respect to the amendment, the effect of which helped Council to make an informed decision.

AND TAKE NOTICE that Official Plan Amendment No.11 requires approval from the County of Dufferin, which is the approval authority under the Planning Act. The Official Plan Amendment and supporting documentation will be submitted to the County of Dufferin for approval.

Any person or public body will be entitled to receive notice of the decision of the approval authority if a written request to be notified of the decision (including the person’s or public body’s address, fax number or email address) is made to the approval authority at the following address:

County of Dufferin
Clerk, Office of the CAO
clerk@dufferincounty.ca 
55 Zina Street, Orangeville, ON L9W 1E5

An explanation of the purpose and effect of the Official Plan Amendment is given below. The complete Official Plan Amendment and related information are available on the Township website or by request via email and/or fax by contacting the Township Clerk’s Department during regular office hours using the information below.

PURPOSE AND EFFECT OF THE OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT
The purpose of Official Plan Amendment No.11 is to create a site specific Rural (Rural Special Policy 2 (RU-2)) designation that would permit two lots with (reduced) minimum lot areas of 6.3 ha and 8 ha for a proposed severance and to redesignate the rear portion of the subject lands, occupied by a woodlot and an associated 10 m buffer, from Rural to Environmental Protection.

DATED AT THE TOWNSHIP OF EAST GARAFRAXA THIS 4th DAY OF FEBRUARY 2026.

Jessica Kennedy, Manager of Legislative Services, Municipal Clerk
Township of East Garafraxa
065371 Dufferin County Road 3, Unit 2,
East Garafraxa, ON L9W 7J8
Tel: 226-259-9400, 204
Email: clerks@eastgarafraxa.ca