Lambton County Council has finally approved its controversial draft Official Plan. The amended document outlines county land use policy as well as environmental, social and economic matters. Warden Bill Weber says the review committee did a good job addressing concerns related to the natural heritage section of the document. "There's a lot of changes that were made to the original section 8 and those that were listed on the agenda and what changes have occurred, we hope have satisfied concerns raised by the agriculture community," says Weber. "That is why some of them didn't agree with it and wanted further changes or wanted it removed all together, which would not have been accepted by the province if we took the natural heritage section out." Over 700 people signed a legal letter in which the group "Concerned Landowners Legal Defence" identified specific sections it wanted changed before the draft was passed.
Spokesperson Elizabeth Davis-Dagg says "36 of the 39 items in the legal letter were not discussed by county council today or otherwise."
Pending bylaw approval September 6, the document will be sent to the province for final approval.
