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unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.
Policy:
GV-021
Coverage:
Town of Stellarton
Council Approval: April 10, 2023
Effective Date: April 11, 2023
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## PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT POLICY
Section 204 of the Municipal Government Act requires municipal councils to adopt a public participation program before undertaking the preparation or amendment of development agreements or planning documents. Section 204A requires municipal councils to engage with abuttingmunicipalities when adopting or amending a municipal planning strategy.
## 1. Purpose
## 2. Definition
The terms used in this policy have the same meaning as those found in the Municipal Government Act under Section 204. Section 204A requires municipal councils to engage with abutting municipalities when adopting or amending a municipal planning strategy.
## 3. Comprehensive Review of Planning Documents
The Council of the Town of Stellarton (hereinafter referred to as "the Council") resolve to seek the views of the public and encourage public participation regarding any comprehensive review by developing and implementing a public engagement plan to inform the public and receive comments from the public. The contents are at the discretion of each Council, by may involve committees, meetings, open houses, surveys, questionnaires, and publications. Open houses will be conducted at least once within each municipal unit participating in the Inter-municipal Planning Strategy and Common Land Use Bylaw, and at least one open house will be held to seek the input of all municipalities in Pictou County (including the Municipality of the County of Pictou, as an abutting unit to all), to allow for all six (6) abutting units tobe consulted. The Towns agree to engage with all abutting municipal units by advising them, in writing, of any review of planning documents being undertaken, and seeking their input through invitations to Planning Advisory Committee meetings, public meetings, or other such fora.
## 4. Development Agreements and Amendments to Development Agreements; Amendments to Planning Documents and Amendments to the LandOuse Bylaw
Council resolves to seek the views of the public and encourage public participation regarding development agreements, amendments to development agreements, and amendments to the Intermunicipal Planning Strategy, Secondary Planning Strategy, Subdivision Bylaw or Land Use Bylaw by
(except where exempt under Section 211 of the Municipal Government Act, at a minimum, through one or more of the following, in addition to that required by the Municipal Government Act:
- 4.1. holding one or more public meetings, usually hosted by the Planning Advisory Committee, prior to First Reading of any proposed development agreement or amendment;
- 4.2. advertising any public participation or information meeting regarding any proposed development agreement or amendment by notifying by mail the owners of neighbouring properties of the site of both the public information meeting and any public hearing regarding a proposed amendmentto a specific property;
- 4.3. advertising any public hearing regarding any proposed development agreement or amendment by:
- 4.4. placing a notice in a newspaper circulating in the local areas;
Ihe Towns agree to engage with all abutting municipal units by advising them, in writing, of any such processes being undertaken, and seeking their input through invitations to Planning Advisory Committee meetings, public meetings, or other such fora.
## 5. General
Any fees related to any action required by the Public Participation Program will be established bypolicy of Council.
## 6. Repeal
The Public Participation Program Policies originally adopted by the Council, are hereby repealed.
## Clerk Annotation for Official Policy Book
Date of Notice to Council Members of Intent To Consider (Minimum 7 Days): March 27, 2023
Date of Passage of Current Policy: April 10, 2023
I certify that this Policy was adopted by Council as indicated
April 11, 2023
CAO
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