NPG prepared a New Official Plan for the County of Essex to guide development for the next 25 years. The County adopted a three (3) phase approach, and completed Phase 1: Growth Projections, Background Review, and Initial Outreach before NPG was retained. This included a 30-year population, household and employment forecast at County and Local levels.
NPG’s work on the New County of Essex Official Plan was recognized with the PlanON 2025 Vision Award of Excellence and Project of the Year from the Ontario Professional Planners Institute, the highest honour for planning achievement in Ontario. This award celebrates the plan’s innovative framework to balance growth, protect agricultural lands, and foster sustainable, inclusive communities .
County of Essex
Essex, Ontario
2023 – 2024
Council’s Adoption
NPG prepared two reports as part of Phase 2: Policy Directions and Additional Technical Studies.
The Growth Management Report involved conducting a comprehensive technical study to determine appropriate land requirements for accommodating forecasted housing and employment growth in each partner municipality. The Growth Management Report recommended housing and employment growth options with density and intensification targets that will meet projected population, household and employment forecasts at the County Level.
A Policy Directions Report was also completed, which reviewed the existing Official Plan policies and proposed key policy directions for the New Official Plan. These considerations are aligned with provincial policies outlined in the Provincial Planning Statement and will contribute to creating and sustaining complete communities.
NPG went on to complete Phase 3: Draft and Adopt New Official Plan by preparing a draft and final version of the New Official Plan. The New Official Plan underwent extensive review and consultation with County staff, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH), agencies, the Indigenous community, and members of the public, with a Statutory Open House and a Statutory Public Meeting held in the summer and fall of 2024, respectively. Officially adopted by the County Council in November 2024, NPG finalized this project by updating the mapping in the County Official Plan using ArcGIS.
NPG implemented an Engagement Strategy which involved the Technical Planning Advisory Committee (TPAC) consisting of representatives from partner municipalities, the Community Stakeholder Advisory Committee (CSAC) made up of key stakeholder groups, and the public in the process. Discussions were facilitated through stakeholder meetings, focus workshops, and other in-person meetings. Project transparency was maintained with all parties involved by posting notices in local newspapers and by maintaining online visibility through a web and social media presence.