The County Official Plan Review

The County Official Plan is a legal document intended to give direction over the next 20 years, to the physical development of the County, its local municipalities and to the long term protection of County resources. Through this Plan, County Council will outline a long-term vision for Wellington County's communities and resources. The Plan provides policy to attain the long-term vision.

Over the next 30 years, Wellington County is expected to grow to approximately 160,000 people and 70,000 jobs. The County is reviewing and updating Official Plan policies to prepare for this added growth and to ensure that the Plan is supporting healthy, compact and complete communities. The County is doing so through a process called a Municipal Comprehensive Review and also as part of a 5-year review.

The County Official Plan Review will be completed through a series of phased official plan amendments that will bring the County Official Plan into conformity with recent changes to Provincial land use plans, consistency with the Provincial Policy Statement and address other legislative changes.

Official Plan Amendment OPA 131

On April 30, 2026, County Council Adopted Official Plan Amendment 131 (OPA 131) and the County has sent the Adopted version of OPA 131 to the Province for final review and decision.

This amendment was based on recommendations from the Puslinch by Design Study.

Puslinch by Design Study

The Puslinch by Design study was completed in partnership with the Township of Puslinch and the County of Wellington to identify opportunities for employment lands in Puslinch.

The basis for this study is rooted in the County’s Official Plan Review work. This work identified a minimum 30 hectares needed for additional employment lands in the Township over the long term.

The study took place from November 2024 and completed in June 2025. It took a comprehensive, six phased approach and produced recommendations that both Puslinch and Wellington County councils adopted as Official Plan Amendment 131.

OPA 131 identifies Options D, G & H for future employment lands.

Notably, Options B & C were not recommended.

Developer Application for Official Plan Amendment

An application was submitted privately from Puslinch Developments GP Inc. to re-designate the majority of the lands at 4631 Sideroad 20N from Secondary Agricultural to Rural Employment Area.