The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville says it will defend its Agricultural Area Review after Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing filed an appeal with the Ontario Land Tribunal.
The appeal challenges Counties Official Plan Amendment No. 5, which implements findings from the review of local farmland.
The Agricultural Area Review was required under the Counties’ first Official Plan, approved in 2016. It examined agricultural lands to determine if more prime farmland should be added and to confirm existing boundaries.
The Counties hired PLANSCAPE, with support from soil experts, to complete the study using the provincially backed Land Evaluation and Area Review method.
Officials say legal counsel has been retained and the municipality will defend its position before the tribunal.
Details on the appeal are available through the Ontario Land Tribunal website. More information on the Agricultural Area Review is also available through the Counties.
