Preparation begins for Norwich secondary plan study

Luke Edwards, Post Contributor

The process to begin the process that will determine how the Village of Norwich grows over the next several decades is poised to start.

Staff have been directed “to complete the next steps necessary to prepare for and issue a request for proposal to initiate a comprehensive secondary planning study for the Village of Norwich, including the development of an appropriate terms of reference and identifying an appropriate budget,” a report said. It’s based on a recommendation approved by Norwich council at the April 14 meeting.

“This has the potential to be a really exciting project,” said CAO Matt Smith.

“It’s really important to do and do well…this is our opportunity to talk about what do we want our village to look like.”

There are lands southwest of the Highway 59-Quaker Street intersection that have previously been identified as “future urban growth” lands. A secondary planning process is required for the area to provide a more refined idea for how the township would like to see it developed.

Some of the planning includes a detailed approach to how servicing will be tackled. Doing so alongside the secondary planning could allow for future development to occur more quickly.

A land needs assessment found Norwich will require another 43 hectares of developable residential land and five hectares of developable industrial employment land over the next 30 years.

Part of the review is also expected to determine the direction of future growth and possible settlement area expansion, leading to future secondary planning process for any areas identified.

“This is a fulsome approach so that the town is satisfied, and council is satisfied that what is being done through the study makes sense,” said development planner Amy Hartley.

Smith said the costs for the secondary planning study is a bit of a guessing game at this point, but ballparked somewhere in the $300,000 range. It’ll be split between Oxford and Norwich, and can be spread out over a couple years. Staff will look to pay for it through reserves or surplus dollars.