New Agricultural and Environmental Mapping

The Province recently released its four updated provincial land use plans for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Please click Here for more information.

Official Plan and Growth Planning

The Township is expected to continue to experience population and employment growth over the next twenty years. Wise growth management practices will assist us in balancing growth in a sustainable and coordinated manner. The Official Plan (OP) contains the Township's growth management strategy which is closely linked with its strategies for conservation, natural, and cultural resources, and economic development.

To support the Township's growth management and conservation strategies, the Township has been working to assist with the Simcoe County Land Budget. The Simcoe County Land Budget is a planning tool used to assist the County and its member municipalities to sustainably accommodate population and employment growth in the County until 2031. The County Land Budget has been in development since 2008, and has evolved to accommodate changes in relevant policy and adopt new data collection techniques.

Angus Residential Development

 Land Budget

The Land Budget is comprised of distinct phases that will be released separately. The first phase focuses on population growth and residential development. Phase1: the Essa Growth Strategy is available below. The second phase will focus on employment growth and economic development.  This is still in development.   Planning Report PD048-16 describes the progress of Essa's OP.  It is expected that a draft of a new OP may be available in the fall of 2016.  The Township website will be used to advertise future public meetings.

Essa Growth Strategy 

Official Plan Program Status Update