Windsor-West Hants
Joint Planning Advisory Committee

WINDSOR PLAN REVIEW

The new Windsor Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law took effect on September 21, 2005, after almost four years of work by the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) and staff. Research and preparation of background reports started in the fall of 2001. A household survey in 2002 and several public information meetings provided valuable information about Windsor residents’ thoughts and concerns about the future of the town. Planning Advisory Committee members spent much time at their regular monthly meetings reviewing and discussing drafts of policies and regulations. All of the time and effort seems to have paid off. When complete drafts of the proposed planning documents were presented at two public information meetings in February and March 2005, the comments received were very positive.

Among the changes with the new documents are architectural design controls for the Town Centre, Ferry Hill and Central Residential areas, special development standards for Wentworth Road and more opportunities for mixed use development by development agreement. Multiple residential development of three or more units will be considered by development agreement, rather than rezoning, to allow Council more control over details of the development. A new expiry date for development permits means that any permit issued after September 21, 2005 will lapse after one year if development has not started. Permits issued prior to September 21, 2005 will be given a grace period of one year.