Georgian Bluffs council is receiving a status report on the latest work done on its official plan update this week.
In a meeting set for Jan. 11, council will receive an update from consultants J.L. Richards Planning.
The status report details how the update is currently in phase two of four, which details background on various issues in the municipality, including climate change, housing, services, parkland, and Indigenous peoples and what steps to possibly take to address them.
With climate change, the update details on the municipality’s annual mean temperature and total precipitation are projected to increase over the next 40 years, and it is important to protect natural heritage areas, water quality and quantity, as well as shorelines. The consultants recommend encouraging appropriate infill, intensification, redevelopment, and adaptive re-use of building stock, as well as update direction on infrastructure planning, natural hazards, energy efficiency and conservation, and use of green infrastructure and technology.
The report says with housing, the municipality is facing several housing related challenges, including increased housing cost, ageing building stock, and increased demands for short term rental housing options. In response, it is recommended to adopt policies which encourage a range of housing types and densities, as well as maintenance of the existing housing stock. It also recommends new policies for additional residential units and short-term rental accommodations.
For services, the report says the future official plan amendment is proposed to implement the comprehensive water and wastewater master servicing study, which is currently underway. Moving forward, the report recommends policies to continue encouraging stormwater management, as well as low impact development, permeable parking practices, and protect shorelines from stormwater runoff.
In addressing parkland, the report says the township recreation and trails master plan has identified the need for additional three hectares of parkland to meet projected needs by 2031, and an additional 25.6 hectares to meet need by 2046. The report says to include park facility designs as a condition of development approval, and add design principles for planning new park spaces to ensure they meet the needs of the community.
To further strengthen relationships between the municipality and Indigenous peoples, it recommends how the plan should acknowledge the unique and enduring relationships between Indigenous people and their territories, as well as should encourage engagement with First Nations and Metis people on matters of mutual interest.
The report says moving forward in the official update, it recommends hosting an open house to discuss the directions of these various issues, and prepare for the final amendment for council’s consideration.
Council will be receiving this report during its meeting on Jan. 11 at 5 p.m.
