Northumberland County is inviting residents to review and comment on proposed updates to agricultural land policies before they are considered by County Council later this month.
A public meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 29, at 1:30 p.m. during the County’s Economic Development, Tourism and Land Use Planning Committee meeting to discuss the draft Agriculture Amendment to the County’s Official Plan.
The proposed amendment, known as Official Plan Amendment No. 3 (OPA 3), is part of the broader Northumberland Next initiative, a comprehensive update to the County’s Official Plan that will help guide growth and development over the next 30 years.
County officials say the amendment is intended to protect Northumberland’s agricultural system by updating the mapping of prime agricultural lands, modernizing agricultural and rural planning policies to align with the Provincial Planning Statement 2024, and rationalizing settlement area boundaries to better match existing property lines and approved developments.
The proposal also includes a minor expansion of the Grafton settlement area, following a request from Alnwick-Haldimand Township Council.
The draft amendment follows several years of consultation with residents, farmers, municipalities and other community partners between 2022 and 2025.
Residents are encouraged to review the proposed changes before the public meeting and are invited to attend either in person at County Council Chambers, 555 Courthouse Road in Cobourg, or online via Zoom. The meeting will also be livestreamed.
County officials note that anyone wishing to preserve their ability to appeal the final decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal must provide written comments or make an oral submission before the amendment is adopted, subject to the provisions of the Planning Act.
The draft amendment, maps and meeting information are available at Northumberland.ca/NorthumberlandNext.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
