A Planning Advisory Committee is now required for the county under Bill 73 Smart Growth For Our Communities Act.
Oxford County council has been given an update on some of the proposed changes to the Planning Act and Development Charges Act from the Bill 73 Smart Growth For Our Communities Act.
Director of Community and Strategic Planning Gord Hough tells Heart FM what some of the changes are.
"Previously municipalities had the option of having planning advisory committees, well now that's a requirement of the act. So we are going to have to devise a method of dealing with that issue and with the planning and advisory committee - it's like a committee that will advise council on planning matters so we are going to have to develop that. Another change is after a new official plan or a new zoning bylaw that effects an entire municipality is approved, there is no longer an ability to amend them unless council approves them; that's different than the current where you can immediately amend them. So it's things like that and some more technical stuff that council will have to be aware of."
Hough says the changes should not come as a surprise to anyone.
"The process for consultation on this has been going on since the latter part of 2013 and this is the actual legislation approved by the Province, so this is more of an information package or an information session for council."

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