Lennox and Addington County council received a report on Wednesday about their ongoing Natural Heritage Study (NHS,) and will be looking for public input in early 2024.

The NHS is an county-wide evaluation and mapping of natural heritage features such as wetlands, forest cover, and wildlife habitat. Once mapped, official policy will help staff protect significant natural features from development. The county has hired Meridian Planning Consultants and North South Environmental Inc. to help facilitate the NHS.

On March 9, 2016 the county's first official plan was approved by the province. The Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) required the county to establish an NHS within 3 years for its areas within eco-regions located to the south of the Canadian Shield.

Nick MacDonald from Meridian Planning explains how the pandemic, among other delays, held up the project, but ultimately didn't stop progress. "COVID kind of derailed the project for a whole variety of reasons, so the project did go through a few fits and starts, but we've made significant progress." said MacDonald.

Community and development services planner, Anna Geladi explains why the County has been waiting on making a new draft. "This is kind of what we've been waiting on for the last couple of months; to see if they were going to make any changes to the natural heritage policies within the new provincial policies statement. So, none of the changes are very major, but they will be incorporated as we are working on updating our new official plan as well." said Geladi

Public consultation were held in November and December last year to show the initial mapping of natural heritage features, and to ask residents what parts of the county’s natural landscape were valued for environmental, cultural, economic and other important reasons.

Meridian Planning consultants will help the County draft a new Official Plan Amendment (OPA) that includes mapping changes and text changes. It will also include updated policies from the new 2023 PPS once it has been formally adopted by the Province.

County staff and Meridian Planning will also be meeting with lower-tier municipalities to receive any additional comments on the draft OPA. Before it's finalized, the county will be holding an open house and public meeting to include public input.

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