Hastings County Official Plan Includes the Following Municipalities
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Official Plan of the County of Hastings Approved by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, taking effect January 12, 2002 as modified by the Ontario Municipal Board Decision No.: 0189 File No.: O020014 Prepared by: COUNTY OF HASTINGS Planning Department 228 Church Street, Belleville, ON K8N 3A9 OFFICE CONSOLDIATION: FEBRUARY 2009 COUNTY OF HASTINGS OFFICIAL PLAN 1.0 INTRODUCTION The County of Hastings comprises both rural and urban municipalities that function co- operatively in advancing a common planning program. The County, as a unit, represents the "upper tier" level of planning responsibility and the local municipalities form the "lower tier". All municipalities in the County are governed by the policies of this Official Plan. Development within each of the municipalities must conform to the policies of the Plan. However, conditions may change and uses of land not currently contemplated in the Plan may be proposed. In such cases, County Council shall consider an amendment to the Official Plan. Zoning by-laws that implement the policies of the Official Plan are passed by the lower tier municipal Councils. The zoning by-laws include specific classes of land use, which conform to the designations of land in the Official Plan. They also provide development standards to ensure that new construction or changes to existing land uses are undertaken with regard for safety, privacy and the peaceful enjoyment of neighbouring land uses and the protection of ratepayers from undue expenses related to development. 1.1 Purpose of the Official Plan The purpose of this Official Plan is to provide goals, objectives and policies to guide the physical development of Hastings County while having regard for relevant social, economic and environmental matters. 1.2 Geographic Location Hastings County is located in southeastern Ontario between Haliburton, Peterborough and Northumberland Counties on the west and Lennox and Addington and Renfrew Counties on the east. The area extends 160 kilometres (100 miles) from Deseronto on the Bay of Quinte to the District of Nipissing in the north. The Hastings County Official Plan includes the following municipalities: 1.2.1 Town of Bancroft 1.2.2 Town of Deseronto 1.2.3 Municipality of Hastings Highlands 1.2.4 Township of Carlow/Mayo 1.2.5 Municipality of Centre Hastings 1.2.6 Township of Faraday 1.2.7 Township of Limerick 1.2.8 Township of Madoc 1.2.9 Township of Marmora & Lake 1.2.10 Municipality of Stirling—Rawdon 1.2.11 Township of Tudor & Cashel Pg. 1 1.2.12 Municipality of Tweed 1.2.13 Township of Tyendinaga 1.2.14 Township of Wollaston As a result of amalgamations in 1998 and 1999, several of the municipalities include urban serviced areas as well as a rural component. These urban areas are represented by the former Villages of Stirling, Madoc and Tweed, now within the Municipalities of Stirling-Rawdon, Centre Hastings and Tweed respectively, and Bancroft and Dungannon Townships, now the Town of Bancroft. Within each of the municipalities are several designated Hamlets: Municipality Hamlet Town of Bancroft Detlor L’Amable Carlow/Mayo Boulter Ft. Stewart New Carlow Slab Town McArthur’s Mills New Hermon Centre Hastings Crookston Fuller Ivanhoe Moira Roslin Hastings Highlands Purdy (Bangor) Maple Leaf (Wicklow) Lake St. Peter (McClure) Maynooth (McClure) Baptiste (Herschel) Birds Creek (Herschel & Monteagle) Maynooth Station (Monteagle) Monteagle Valley (Monteagle) Musclow (Monteagle) Faraday Paudash Limerick Ormsby St. Ola Madoc Bannockburn Cooper Eldorado Marmora & Lake Deloro (Marmora) Stirling—Rawdon Bonarlaw Spring Brook Wellman Pg. 2 Tudor & Cashel Gilmour (Tudor) Gunter (Cashel) Millbridge (Tudor) Tweed Actinolite (Elzevir) Marlbank (Hungerford) Queensboro (Elzevir) Stoco (Hungerford) Sulphide (Hungerford) Tyendinaga Lonsdale Marysville Read Roslin Shannonville Wollaston Coe Hill Glen Alda Ormsby 1.3 Basis Prior to the development of this Plan, a background study was prepared in conjunction with the local municipalities and all appropriate government ministries and agencies. This study provides a database on a wide variety of topics and illustrates the major planning issues in Hastings County. The results of this study formed the basis of this Plan and the major issues are summarized herein. 1.3.1 the population study indicates two significant trends: a) the predominance of rural growth over the past 20 years, and b) the gradual ageing of the population, especially within the urban centres. Population projections show that growth will occur primarily within the southern rural townships and, to a lesser extent, in the Bancroft area and the ageing trend will prevail for the duration of this Plan. The projected population is from 38,228 to 49,878 by 2016. 1.3.2 The County is predominantly rural in nature. The small scattered urban centres and hamlets serve primarily as market centres for the rural and recreational/residential communities. Development shall be directed to the urban centres provided adequate municipal services are available. Hamlet development on private services shall be limited to infilling within existing boundaries. Rural development, including in waterfront areas, shall be permitted outside of “Urban” and “Hamlet” areas in order to provide a range and choice of housing and economic development opportunities provided such development is environmentally sustainable. 1.3.3 South of Highway 7, the economy is diversified and is based upon a viable agricultural industry, while north of the Highway, the economy is dependent upon the primary sector and tourism, including recreational waterfront Pg. 3 development. The disparity in the economic base partially reflects the diversity of the County’s physical geography. 1.3.4 Farming, directly and indirectly, supports a wide range of businesses and this activity shall continue to be encouraged on lands best suited to sustain the industry. 1.3.5 The utilization of natural resources for forestry, aggregate extraction and recreational uses shall be encouraged on lands best suited for the specific purpose. 1.3.6 Large tracts of Crown Land exist in the northern area of Hastings County. Co- operation among the Province, the County and local municipalities is essential. 1.3.7 It is anticipated that due to the predominantly rural nature of the County, changes in technology are unlikely to alter the present modes of transportation and servicing during the planning period. 1.3.8 A disproportionate amount of the County's finances is currently derived from residential assessment. Council shall continue to strive for a greater commercial/industrial assessment base. 1.4 Monitoring the Official Plan A monitoring program shall be undertaken to determine from time to time the County's progress toward achieving the goals and objectives of the Plan. 1.4.1 Monitoring Framework a) The County shall prepare a monitoring schedule containing performance criteria designed to evaluate the following: (i) the basic assumptions or major issues on which the Plan is based, (ii) new issues which arise and which are not addressed in the Plan, (iii) the Plan's goals and objectives in light of changing conditions, (iv) the degree to which the policies of each section are being implemented. b) The monitoring schedule shall include the following: (i) a summary of Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments by type, purpose and location and their effects upon the intent of the Plan, (ii) a summary of development trends, including statistical data, concerning construction and subdivision activity through both registered plans and consent of the Land Division Committee, indicating purposes, location, size and type of land developed, Pg. 4 (iii) a summary of statistical data regarding population, economic variables (as available), tourism, natural resource utilization and environmental concerns, (iv) an analysis and summary of the financial status of the County, (v) a summary of policies and programs of other levels of government which could influence this Plan's objectives, (vi) a groundwater database utilizing well and septic records shall be maintained and municipal sewer and water service capacities shall be recorded. c) The monitoring schedule shall be reviewed and modified as the need arises. 1.5 Planning Period and Official Plan Revision The planning period of this Plan shall be to the year 2020; however, Council shall hold a special meeting at least every five years to consider the need for revision of this Plan. Pg. 5 2.0 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The goals and objectives of this Plan form the basis and provide direction to guide detailed policies and programs. The numbering of goals and objectives is for reference use only and does not denote priority. 2.1 Social 2.1.1 Goal To encourage development in a manner consistent and compatible with the changing population and social needs to ensure a high quality of living environment. 2.1.2 Objectives a) To promote a sense of community identity and to recognize the desire of those residents who wish to live in close proximity as an extended family. b) To ensure provisions are made for the needs of the residents of the County, such as a variety of living accommodations and community support services and facilities to serve the elderly. 2.2 Settlement Two significant changes have taken place in the County’s settlement patterns. Since 1983, the rural population has increased at a higher rate than that of the urban centres. Specifically, growth has occurred in those townships surrounding the urban centres and around the recreational