May 31, 2005

Huron County Council

1 Court House Square

Goderich, ON N7A 1M2

Re: Official Plan – Municipality of Bluewater

The new Provincial Policy Statement that came into effect on March 1, 2005, requires that decisions affecting planning matters be “consistent with” the Provincial Policy Statement. In a letter dated March 8, 2005, the County Planning and Development Department advised Bluewater that it should reconsider four issues in relation to its draft Official Plan. Notwithstanding written and verbal advice from the Planning staff that the draft plan was not consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement, Bluewater proceeded to approve its Official Plan without addressing these issues.

On March 3, the Health and Planning Standing Committee was made aware of the above. Notwithstanding that we recommended [see attached letter] that the Bluewater Official Plan be referred back to the Municipality to be amended to be consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement in all respects, the Committee voted to approve the plan.

As you aware, Huron County Council, in its capacity as approval authority for lower-tier official plans, is ultimately responsible to ensure that such plans are consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement. Needless to say, Official Plans which are inconsistent with the Provincial Policy Statement are likely to be referred to the Ontario Municipal Board.

Accordingly, we would respectfully request that County Council exercise its authority with respect to this approval responsibility and refer this Official Plan back to the Municipality of Bluewater with the specific request that it be amended to be consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement in all respects.

Sincerely,

John Gillespie

President, BSRA

attachments

GMB 411      R.R. 2      Zurich, ON      N0M 2T0