Expanded on-farm use permissions unlock major economic potential for Scugog and Durham Region’s Agricultural Sector

Scugog – At the end of December, the Township of Scugog Council approved significant policy and zoning amendments to permit establishing permissions for On-Farm Diversified (OFDUs) and Agricultural-Related Used (ARUs) in the Official Plan and Zoning By-Law. These amendments represent a joint project between the Township of Scugog and the Region of Durham to create the framework to permit these types of uses in the agricultural area of our municipality. Over months of hard work behind the scenes, local and regional staff, supported by WSP consulting, have prepared these amendments in collaboration with agricultural partners to provide a consistent approach across the northern municipalities in the Region to better support the changing landscape of farm-based, agricultural-related businesses.

These amendments have been designed to allow as much flexibility as possible while still conforming to the policies of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and the Greenbelt Plan, under the Ontario Guidelines on Permitted Uses in Ontario’s prime agricultural areas.

Each site is unique and may have additional requirements that others don’t. Having these established criteria will allow applicants to complete the base requirements before submitting their application, fast-tracking approvals for any additional requirements and reducing red tape associated with navigating regulatory compliance requirements.

Supporting farmers in Scugog is an essential priority for Mayor Wotten, “I am proud of the time and work Scugog, and the Region of Durham staff put into developing this new policy. As an agriculturally driven community, supporting farmers who wish to expand their operations will benefit our local economy, build strong succession planning for farm families, and unlock agri-tourism.”

Wondering how this process will look? Simply follow our Ready, Set, Go guidelines below!

Ready – Plan your farm business.

Are you interested in diversifying your farm with an agricultural-related use (ARU) or an on-farm diversified use (OFDU)?

Scugog and the Region have developed an Application Toolkit to help farmers get started.  It provides key information to determine if your business idea would be permitted on your property.

Complete the Checklist in the Toolkit and reach out to planning@scugog.ca to start early discussions with staff.

Set – Pre-Application Information Gathering and Application requirements

Meet with Scugog and Regional staff and other key agencies to discuss your proposal in detail and learn what requirements will be necessary before you can start operating your business. This may include site plan control and other permitting requirements, such as building permits.

Go! – Apply for Applications and/or Building Permits

Submit any required site plan applications and/or building permits to the Township to proceed with developing your business idea!

Feedback from Applicants

• “I would like to express our sincere appreciation for the productive and insightful meeting we had today regarding the agricultural OFDU. Your team demonstrated remarkable professionalism, efficiency, and dedication throughout our discussion.

We were very impressed by the clarity of your guidance, the thorough preparation, and the collaborative approach your team consistently brings. Your expertise and commitment to supporting agricultural development in the Township provides us with strong confidence as we move forward with our project.

Thank you once again for your excellent work and support. We truly value the high standards your team upholds and look forward to continued collaboration.”

• "I would like to give my feedback regarding the North Durham On-Farm Diversified Use Project that Scugog's planning department has been working hard on. I attended the meetings and stayed informed on the updates whenever possible. I have owned a small 100-acre farm in Blackstock for the past 14 years or so and have dealt with different staff at the planning department over the years. I also have experience in dealing with other municipalities planning departments for various projects over the years.

The Scugog planning department has done a great job in a very timely manner to put forth this plan in a very user-friendly way. The points of contact, availability and helpfulness to assist when needed has been excellent so far. It's clear that a lot of calculated thought was put into the framework of the application process, and although there are some strict guidelines that must be met, the process has been made extremely clear and understandable.

So often people complain about planning processes and how tedious, confusing and lengthy they can be while also having communication issues. I felt it was necessary to voice my feedback when something was done so well. I'd like to thank [the Manager of Planning] and the team for all of the effort they clearly put into steamrolling this project to the point where we can put our plans forth using the tools provided to us along with their assistance.”

We are here to help farmers through this process! Contact planning@scugog.ca to learn more.

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Media Contact: Communications and Strategic Projects, Township of Scugog
905.985.7346, media@scugog.ca

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