FAQs

The Official Plan is a strategic planning document that establishes a policy framework to guide the economic, cultural, sustainable, connected, and physical development of the city. It is a document that: 

• Implements goals, objectives, and land use policies to serve the city's communities;
• Directs density, housing supply, protection of environmental features, cultural heritage preservation and more; and, 
• Guides growth and development to implement the vision for the city’s long-term evolution. 

It is time to update the City’s Official Plan through the Official Plan Review to better meet the needs of current and future citizens, workers, and visitors, and guide the city's growth for the next 25+ years. The City is required by Provincial policy to review and update its Official Plan.

The updated Official Plan will establish innovative, proactive, and contemporary policies to reflect the changing characteristics and demographics, manage growth and development over the next 25 years and review important matters such as housing, employment, and protect what our residents value most. 

Land use planning is the management of land and resources, and in Ontario it is a shared responsibility between the Province, upper-tier municipalities, or single-tier municipalities like the City of Stratford. 

The Province sets the vision and framework for land use planning in Ontario through legislation and policy documents such as the Planning Act and provincial policy documents and legislation. The City will engage with community members to implement the applicable planning policy documents and provide detailed planning direction for the City through the Official Plan. 

The City has flexibility to tailor the Official Plan to meet the needs of current and future residents, businesses and other stakeholders, and incorporate community feedback where appropriate. 

Join the conversation! Your feedback, opinions and thoughts matter and will be recorded throughout the Project.

The City is committed to regularly reporting back on what was heard from the community. Feedback summaries will be released after each phase of the Official Plan Review. These summaries will explain how the feedback influenced the work completed to date.

Join the conversation! Subscribe to our project mailing list to stay informed on the Official Plan Review and be the first to hear about opportunities to get involved.

It is expected that the Official Plan Review will be completed in 2024; however, schedule is subject to change.