County File No. SC-OPA-1901
The County of Simcoe adopted a Solid Waste Management Strategy in 2010 that provides the framework for the County’s waste disposal options and diversion programs. Guided by the Strategy, the County is working to further these options and programs by approaching waste management as a “system” comprised of landfilling (i.e. permanent storage of waste) and non-landfilling activities (i.e. transfer stations, recycling facilities and organics processing facilities). Currently, to facilitate the establishment or expansion of a waste management site for non-landfilling activities, a County official plan amendment along with amendments to the local municipal official plan and zoning by-law would be required. To alleviate the burden of undertaking an official plan amendment at the upper and lower tier for non-landfilling activities, the County is proposing policy amendments to Section 4.9 Waste Management of the County Official Plan. The proposed modifications will introduce a systems approach to waste management in the County, differentiate landfilling and non-landfilling activities, clarify language associated with D-4 Assessment Areas and D-4 studies, and update associated map schedules.
Consultation & Public Meeting
In accordance with Section 17(15) of the
Planning Act, the County circulated relevant information to local and adjacent municipalities, agencies, ministries, regulatory authorities and Indigenous Communities for their review and comment.
The County held a statutory public meeting (virtual) on November 24, 2020 at 1pm. Notice of this meeting was provided in accordance with the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.P. 13. Minutes of the Public Meeting are available
here.
Adoption
County Planning Staff prepared a Report CCW 2021-016 recommending adoption of the amended waste management policies and schedules (OPA No. 5) which is Item 8.1 on the January 26th 2021 Committee of the Whole agenda that is available on the County website using this link.
On February 9th 2021, County Council enacted the By-law to adopt the OPA (see Item 26.3). In accordance with Section 17(31) of the
Planning Act, a record including the prescribed information and material was compiled and forwarded to the approval authority.
Approval
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is the approval authority for amendments to the County's Official Plan. The amendment was posted to the Environmental Registry (ERO number 019-3292) for additional public consultation. More information regarding the effects of the consultation, including comments received, is available on the ERO posting.
A
decision was made on June 21, 2021 to approve OPA 5 to the County of Simcoe's Official Plan, as adopted by By-Law No. 6882, with one modification. The last day to appeal this decision of Ministry File # 43-OP-200546 was July 12, 2021.
Please click here for the updated Section 4.9 Waste Management and 5.8 Definitions as amended by County Official Plan Amendment No. 5. The approved schedules are available here.
Status
The Ministry’s decision was appealed by two parties but has subsequently been withdrawn. The Ontario Land Tribunal’s letter dated June 2, 2022 advising of the withdrawal can be viewed
here. There are no outstanding appeals in this matter and the decision of the Ministry dated June 21, 2021 for amendment number 5 to the County Official Plan is in effect.
More Information
Please send any questions and comments regarding this proposed County Official Plan Amendment to Adrianna Spinosa, Planner III at 705-726-9300 Ext. 1912 or adrianna.spinosa@simcoe.ca.
