Official Plan Review

The Municipality of Bluewater is updating the Bluewater Official Plan. Check this page regularly for details on this project, including opportunities for public consultation, the draft plan, maps and more.

An Official Plan (OP) provides a short and long term vision for land use, growth, and development within a municipality.

The Planning Act requires that municipal Councils review their OP not less than every five years to ensure that the OP has regard for matters of provincial interest, is consistent with policy statements issued by the Province, and conforms to the upper tier official plan (Huron County OP). Bluewater’s last review of the Bluewater OP was in 2018. The Huron County OP was reviewed and updated in 2021 and is currently undergoing another review. The latest policy statement issued by the Province, The Provincial Planning Statement, was released in 2024.

Public meeting

The Bluewater Community is invited to participate in a public meeting on Monday, March 2, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at Bluewater Council Chambers, 38594 Mill Road, Varna. The purpose of this meeting is to consider the Official Plan amendment under Sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act.

Have Your Say

Any person may attend the public meeting and/or make written or verbal representation, either in support of or in opposition to the proposed Official Plan amendment.

1. You may submit comments, objections, or concerns by email to op@municipalityofbluewater.ca
2. You may submit comments, objections, or concerns by mail to Municipality of Bluewater, 14 Mill Ave., Zurich ON, N0M 2T0 Attention: Lindsay Whalen, Planning Coordinator.
3. You may also call the Planner at 519-524-8394 ext. 3 or the Planning Coordinator at 519-236-4351 ext. 235.
4. You may speak during the public meeting. Individuals are encouraged to submit their comments before the meeting for consideration.

We encourage written comments to be submitted by February 25, 2026.

Verbal representation may be made via electronic participation; however, in-person attendance is encouraged. For those persons who wish to participate electronically at the meeting, please contact the Planner and Planning Coordinator by email or phone no later than 3 p.m. on the date of the public meeting. All public meetings will be livestreamed where possible to the Municipality of Bluewater’s YouTube channel.

If you wish to be notified of the decision of the County of Huron on the proposed Official Plan Amendment, you must make a written request to the Municipality of Bluewater, Attention: Lindsay Whalen, Planning Coordinator.

Please note that comments and opinions submitted on these matters, including the originator's name and address, become part of the public record and may be viewed by the general public and published in a Planning Report, Council agenda, or Council minutes.

The first draft of the proposed amended Official Plan policy is available in the document section below.

The second draft of the proposed amended Official Plan—which will be discussed at the March 2nd Public Meeting—is now available in the document section below. In addition, you can view the second draft map changes for the entire Municipality, including your property, with the Official Plan Review Online Interactive Map. This map has been updated and is reflective of the Second Draft changes.

For a copy of the current Official Plan, maps, schedules and appendices, please email op@municipalityofbluewater.ca or call Sarah Smith, Planner, at 519-524-8394 ext. 3 (Huron County).

Interactive Map

Use the interactive map to search for properties and see proposed land use designations under the revised plan. This map has been updated and is reflective of the Second Draft changes.

Documents

• Second draft of the proposed amendment Official Plan
• First draft of the proposed amendment Official Plan 

Meetings to date

• Public open houses held November 24th through 29th , 2025, drop-in sessions open to public to review draft plan, discuss and provide comments to planning staff
• October 20, 2025, Regular Council meeting—First Draft of the proposed amended Official Plan review presented
• June 16, 2025, Special Meeting of Council—Possible revisions discussed. Meeting legislated under Section 26 of the Planning Act, RSO, 1990.
• April 7, 2025, Project kick-off meeting held seeking approval to initiate review.