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MEAFORD'S NEXT CHAPTER

Meaford’s rural character and settlement areas are important lands within the Official Plan. Meaford’s rural lands consist of farm, resource, forestry, and recreational lands which the Municipality strives to protect throughout the countryside and settlement areas in order to maintain productive landscapes and agricultural uses, and attractive and livable communities. Various components contribute to Meaford’s settlements and rural character including, but are not limited to: resource activities, agricultural and associated activities, recreational uses, developments, and environmental conservation.

The following questions will focus on these elements and rural designations as they relate to maintaining rural character.

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1. The following list outlines the current Rural Area Designations in the Municipality of Meaford as seen in Official Plan Schedule A:
 
*Please note that the rural area is comprised of several different designations within the Official Plan. The Rural designation is the “umbrella” that contains “sub-designations”, described below.

  • Agricultural: lands identified as being prime agricultural in the Grey County Official Plan which consist of land-uses such as livestock, cash crop, and local food farming.

  • Specialty Agricultural: identified as being within the Special Agriculture designation in the Grey County Official Plan which are unique areas with special microclimates that support the growing of fruits and vegetables such as apple and grape production.

  • Rural: all rural areas in the Municipality that do not satisfy the Agricultural and Specialty Agricultural designations which consist of a mix of farm, development, resource, forestry, and recreational lands.

  • Shoreline: lands that are already developed or will be developed for permanent and seasonal residential uses in close proximity to the Georgian Bay.

  • Rural Settlement Area: applies to settlements communities of Rockford, Leith, Annan, Woodford, and Bognor that are part of the Municipality of Meaford.

  • Rural Highway Commercial: lands located on major roads in the Municipality that are the subject of current or planned commercial and service uses on private services intended to serve the needs of the traveling public.

  • Mineral Aggregate Resources: existing licensed pit and quarry operations.

  • Federal Lands: lands under the jurisdiction of the Federal government such as the Military base.

Do you think there should be additional designations identified/classified in the Official Plan? What would these be and why?

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2. In the current Meaford Official Plan Section A2.4 Rural Character, the goal is outlined as:

"It is a goal of this Plan to maintain and enhance the open space character of the rural area."

Do you agree with this goal? 

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What does this goal mean to you?

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3. Based on the Official Plan the current Strategic Objectives for Rural Character are outlined below:
 
  • Protect and enhance the Georgian Bay shoreline;
  • Encourage recreational and eco-tourism uses that have minimal impacts in rural areas;
  • Prohibit development that requires urban service expansion to rural areas;
  • Avoid incompatible land-uses with the rural character and resource activities of the area.

In your opinion, should Meaford consider other opportunities to protect and enhance Rural Character?  What would you recommend?

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What ideas can you offer to support and improve viability and success of agricultural and rural uses?

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Do you think the current objectives and goals for maintaining Rural Character above meet your needs in the community?

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4. The following outlines the current permitted uses for the Rural designation: 
  • Agricultural uses
  • Single-detached dwellings
  • Bed and breakfast establishments
  • Home occupations and custom workshops
  • Accessory residential uses on farm properties
  • Veterinary clinics
  • Commercial dog kennels
  • Passive recreational uses such as walking trails and nature interpretation centres
  • Institutional uses
  • Forestry and resource management uses
  • Cemeteries
  • Small-scale commercial and industrial uses on farm properties
  • Accommodation uses such as private campground, rental cabin establishments and trailer parks
  • Open air recreational uses such as golf courses, conservation clubs, cross-country ski facilities, and mountain bike facilities
  • Sand and/or gravel operations (within Potential Aggregate Resource Areas as identified in Official Plan Schedule B)
  • Garden suites
  • Farm-related exhibitions and agricultural tourism establishments
  • Wineries

Do you think there should be changes to the existing permitted uses within the Rural Designation? What changes would you like to see?  Please help us understand your rationale with an explanation.

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5. Settlement Areas in Meaford are intended to be communities that provide a wide range of health, social, cultural, and recreational services to residents. New developments shall be regulated to maintain and respect the existing character of the community. The current Official Plan envisions this through the development of a mix of land-uses that will be compatible with existing uses and the natural and historic features of each Settlement Area, such as parks, recreation, shopping areas, and housing.  

In what ways do you think these actions can be improved upon to better support Rural Settlement Areas?

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6. It is the objective of the Rural Settlement Areas of Bognor, Annan, Woodford, Rockford, and Leith to:
  • Maintain and create attractive, livable communities;
  • Encourage the development of additional commercial and tourist-related uses;
  • Ensure that settlement areas are developed in a logical and cost-effective manner;
  • Ensure that all new developments contribute to the character of the settlement and the Municipality.
What changes to your community do you envision guided by these objectives?

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What’s most important to you for the future of your community?

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7. Do you think there should be additional objectives for Rural Settlement Areas?

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8. Related to the statement below which is a Rural Character Strategic Objective.

2.4.2 (2) To encourage the development of passive low-intensity recreational and eco-tourism uses in the rural areas of the Municipality provided the use has a minimal impact on the character of the rural area and is properly sited.

Are there successful examples of appropriate recreational and eco-tourism uses which you can share from other municipalities?

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Are there any comments or concerns you may have for existing or possible eco-tourism uses?

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