Norfolk County's Official Plan project presents an exciting opportunity for residents and other members of the community to be involved in shaping their own. The Official Plan will address the unique issues within the County and will require specific research and consultation to determine the most effective policies to guide change over the next 20 years.

The key steps leading to the final Official Plan include:

• Consulting public agencies, non-governmental organizations and members of the public in five community forums and a county-wide search conference;
• Undertaking a County-wide visioning exercise that will direct policy development;
• Developing a Strategic Plan that includes a vision statement, goals, objectives and strategic directions;
• Exploring issues and developing options to address the planning policy issues;
• Formulating a Growth Strategy based on the preferred options; and
• Addressing identified issues through planning policies in the new Official Plan.

In order to create a framework for the future, the County wants to know what people think about their community and what they hope the County will be like in years to come. That's why the County has incorporated a grassroots approach, based on community involvement, into the development of the Official Plan. Bourrie & Associates together with Marshall Macklin Monaghan Limited and the RETHINK GROUP designed and delivered several community consultation opportunities in 2003. The consultation program encouraged everyone, especially those who think they aren't the type to get 'involved', to participate. To date, over 300 people have participated in one form or another.

"Public participation is the only way to address key issues and to lay a foundation for future decision making."

The 2003 consultation sessions helped to shape the Vision Document. The Draft Strategic Plan flowed from the Vision. Participants in the initial workshops are pleased to see so many of their ideas reflected in the documents. County Council is expected to approve the Strategic Plan in January 2004. Consultations for the 2nd phase of the project, assessing technical and policy options related to land use planning, were held in February and April 2004. Andrea Bourrie continues to be the lead facilitator and community development planner on the project as preparation of the County Official Plan continues.