November 21, 2023
For Immediate Release
THAMES CENTRE UNVEILS OFFICIAL PLAN TO GUIDE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
THAMES CENTRE – Building upon a comprehensive review of our Official Plan (OP), the Municipality of Thames Centre takes a significant step towards a resilient and vibrant future. As a vital guiding document, the Official Plan serves as the framework for growth, development, and the preservation of built and natural heritage assets across the Municipality, charting a course into the future.
The Planning Act requires Municipalities to review its Official Plan to ensure it is consistent with Provincial interests and the Provincial Policy Statement. Additionally, here, the review must conform to the County Official Plan. To meet these requirements, Thames Centre carried out a General Official Plan Update through Official Plan Amendment (OPA) No. 27 to the Thames Centre Official Plan. Today, Middlesex County Council passed OPA 27 in alignment with Thames Centre Council resolutions.
The updated Official Plan draws from the previous Plan, benefiting from past successes and incorporating lessons learned. Informed by a series of background studies, the plan provides a holistic understanding of how future growth and development will shape our unique communities within Thames Centre. A forward-looking perspective includes meticulous planning for the impacts of a changing climate and economy, as well as addressing the evolving needs of residents, businesses, and visitors.
Thames Centre extends its gratitude to the community members and stakeholders who actively participated in shaping this vision. Their valuable feedback played a crucial role in creating an Official Plan that reflects the collective aspirations of those who live, work, and visit Thames Centre.
The Municipality is eager to continue its collaboration with the community as it takes proactive steps to ensure Thames Centre remains a dynamic and thriving place to call home.
"With the new Thames Centre Official Plan, I am proud to say that it stands as a significant milestone for our municipality. Our strategic vision for growth and development reflects a commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our diverse communities. We, as a municipality, are dedicated to providing essential services, modern infrastructure, and an unparalleled quality of life for our residents now and for generations to come.” – The Municipality of Thames Centre Mayor McMillan
“To be clear, this is the culmination of several years worth of work from a variety of stakeholders. It’s important to celebrate and acknowledge this seemingly quiet passage of OPA 27 as a Thames Centre success and recognize that this is a document that will guide our growth as a community moving forward.” – The Municipality of Thames Centre CAO David Barrick
Contact
Shannon Zylstra
Communications Coordinator
The Municipality of Thames Centre
szylstra@thamescentre.on.ca