Thursday, April 25, 2024
Many municipalities undertake Servicing Master Plans to define their long-term servicing objectives as a supplement to water and wastewater needs identified through their Official Plan development process. A Master Plan integrates existing and future land-use planning and the planning of servicing infrastructure with the principles of environmental assessment planning.
Master Plans build upon the analysis and detailed policies developed through municipal Official Plans. Therefore, it must be recognized that the link between Master Plans and Official Plans is fundamental. An Official Plan is a legal document, developed through a public and legislative process in accordance with the Ontario Planning Act that contains “goals, objectives and policies established primarily to manage and direct physical change and the effects on the social, economic and natural environment of the municipality”. While Official Plans are approved under the Ontario Planning Act, typically they are developed through a process which applies the principles of EA planning. As such, Official Plans provide a planning and technical basis for undertaking infrastructure environmental assessment studies.
Master Plans are developed through a stakeholder consultation process that involves consultation with the public, government technical agencies, other municipalities, and First Nations. If developed in accordance with Section A.2.7 of the Municipal Class EA, at a minimum, a Master Plan can address Phases 1 and 2 of the Municipal Class EA process. As a result, a Master Plan can provide the basis for carrying out follow-on EA studies of the specific components, including the problem and/or opportunity being addressed and the range of alternatives being considered. Master Plans are discussed in Section A.2.7.