Land Use Designations are applied by planners to qualify lands according to their intrinsic features, and determine how they shall be used. Land use designations are therefore an important way of shaping landscapes and communities. Advocating for the right land use designations will go a long way toward safeguarding sensitive natural environments in Inverhuron, as well as preventing environmentally destructive developments such as Tidman and Sundance. 

 

PWEP is concerned about the current land use designation of Inverhuron, Lakeshore Area A and Lakeshore area B, as identified in Schedules A-3 and A-4 of the Municipal OP, and Schedule A (Lakeshore Section) of the Draft County OP.

 

The current Bruce County Official Plan (BC OP) states that Inverhuron is designated as a Primary Urban Community (BC OP p. 71). PWEP is concerned that putting Inverhuron on par with much larger urban hubs such as Walkerton, Kincardine and Port Elgin would put undue stress on the natural heritage features of the area, especially since “up to 80% of new development will take place in Primary and Secondary Settlement Areas” (BC OP p. 21). The Draft County OP proposes to designate Inverhuron, Lakeshore Area A and Lakeshore Area B as Secondary Urban Community.

 

PWEP generally does not support development on the scale typical for Primary or Secondary Settlement areas in Inverhuron and along the Lakeshore, due to expected negative impacts on the ecological function and biodiversity of natural heritage systems in the area; land use compatibility concerns; lack of infrastructure; and traffic impacts, amongst other points of concern.

 

We have therefore prepared an alternative land use proposal, to be considered in the framework of the County OP Review process, as well as the municipal Comprehensive Zoning By-Law Review. We invite members of the community to read through our proposal, and to submit your own comments to the Municipality and the County. 

 

For a reminder on dates, deadlines and contact information, click here. 

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June 2026 Update: 

 

The Bruce County Official Plan Review has entered its final stage. The final Draft Official Plan is now available, and it shows no evidence as yet that PWEP and the community's concerns have been addressed.

 

The Public Meeting regarding the Official Plan is on June 18th, at 9:30a.m. in the Bruce County Council Chambers at 30 Park St., Walkerton. PWEP members will be there. We encourage you to attend along with us and voice your concerns to the County Council.

 

In the meantime, please send your comments to planthebruce@brucecounty.on.ca

You can also read PWEP's Open Letter to Bruce County and the Municipality of Kincardine here (link to attachment).

 

As a reminder, the new BC Official Plan will shape planning and development throughout the County for the next 20 years, until 2046. Let's make sure we do everything we can now to protect Inverhuron for the coming decades.

 

Thank you for your interest and participation in this important matter.

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Shout-out to the Inverhuron community: Turnout at the Public Meeting on June 18th was phenomenal! Your presence made all the difference. Thank you all for showing up! You can view the recording of the public meeting here (community speeches start at minute 25:00), and read about it in this Hamilton Spectator article

 

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Fall 2026 update

 

The Bruce County Official Plan Review is now concluded. Inverhuron and the Lakeshore remain designated as Secondary Urban Communities in the new Bruce County Official Plan. However, PWEP is proposing that a Secondary Plan for Inverhuron and the Lakeshore be adopted in the local official plan, in order to protect the area's natural, historical and cultural heritage, and ensure that community priorities are met.  

 

We know that planning tiers and jargon can be confusing, especially since the County’s "Secondary Urban Community" sounds very similar to PWEP's proposed "Secondary Plan”. To be clear, the Secondary Plan we are proposing functions similarly to a special policy area, and would put in place comprehensive, community-led protections. So, while Inverhuron won't be getting its Hamlet status back, the Secondary Plan proposed by PWEP will offer equal, perhaps even greater protections going forward.

 

You can read our full Secondary Plan proposal here.

 

You can also view PWEP's presentation to the Kincardine municipal council on this topic on August 12th, 2026 – the recording of the council meeting is available here (the PWEP delegation is the first item on the agenda). 

 

We are waiting for the Municipality to approve the Secondary Plan concept. Only then can work on implementing the Secondary Plan begin. We are expecting the new council to vote on this before the end of the year. Stay tuned!