Please note that Official Plan Amendment 59, adopted Council on May 18, 2022, and approved by the County of Middlesex on Sept. 26, 2023, is currently under appeal at the Ontario Land Tribunal. If you require more information on OPA 59, contact Planning Services.
- What is an Official Plan?
An Official Plan is a legal document that sets out the goals, objectives, and policies to guide land use, development, and growth within a municipality.
The plan outlines the municipality’s long-term vision for how the community will grow and develop. It includes population and housing forecasts, provides direction for how land should be used, and identifies areas for development, agriculture, and natural heritage.
Why is it important?
The Official Plan shapes the physical character of the municipality and influences our social, economic, cultural, and natural environment. It determines:
- Where new housing, industry, offices, and commercial areas will be located, and what those developments might look like (for example, housing density).
- Where roads and transportation networks will go, and where services and amenities such as schools, recreation centres, and parks are needed.
- How we will protect agricultural lands, green spaces, and natural areas.
- Other key considerations for managing municipal growth and development.
- Why are we reviewing the Official Plan?
New policies in the Provincial Planning Statement came into effect on October 20, 2024, introducing significant changes to how municipalities must plan for growth and development.
Although the Municipality completed an Official Plan Review in 2023 (currently before the Ontario Land Tribunal), we must now ensure our policies align with these new provincial requirements.
- Public Involvement / Public Meeting
On January 28, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., we are hosting a public meeting about the Official Plan Review.
This meeting will introduce the Official Plan Review project and provide an overview of themes, guiding principles, direction, and potential revisions. These revisions aim to align our Official Plan with new provincial policy direction as well as the County of Middlesex Official Plan. The meeting is also an opportunity for the public and stakeholders to share input on issues or themes that should be considered during the review.
Please see the Public Notice for details on participating or viewing the public meeting.
- Related Documents
Documents
- Middlesex Centre Official Plan (current version, before the update)
- County Official Plan (County of Middlesex)
- Provincial Planning Statement (Government of Ontario)
- Planning Act (Government of Ontario)
Resources
- Citizen's Guide to Land Use Planning - Official Plans (Government of Ontario)
- Sign-Up to Receive Official Plan Review Updates
Sign-up to receive email notification about the Official Plan Review.
- For More Information
Please contact our Planning Services team with any questions or comments.