Town of Wasaga Beach Approves New Official Plan

The new Official Plan is a practical document that will guide how Wasaga Beach grows and evolves over the next two decades.

“Our Town’s new Official Plan provides a sustainable framework that will guide growth for the next 30 years. The Plan is intentional about where we want to direct growth while at the same time identifying areas that we want to have character preserved. The new Official Plan will assist Wasaga Beach in becoming a more complete community – one that meets the daily needs of our residents and business owners while at the same time helping us to remain a community of choice for people to live, work, learn and play.” – Mayor Brian Smith

WASAGA BEACH – After years of work with residents, stakeholders, Indigenous partners, and agencies, the Town of Wasaga Beach has approved a new Official Plan - the first comprehensive update to the Town’s planning vision in more than 20 years. 

The new Official Plan is a practical document that will guide how Wasaga Beach grows and evolves over the next two decades. It sets out where and how new housing, jobs, parks, roads and community services will be built, and ensures that all future zoning bylaws and Town-led public works align with the long-term vision of the community. 

Years of Community Engagement

Work on the new Official Plan began in 2017 and included one of the most comprehensive engagement efforts ever undertaken by the Town.  Throughout the process, the Town:

• Consulted with Indigenous partners, including the Huron-Wendat Nation
• Worked closely with the Province of Ontario, the County of Simcoe and other agencies
• Hosted stakeholder focus groups, public meetings, workshops, youth engagement sessions and pop-up events
• Offered online engagement opportunities through engagewasaga.ca
• Responded to more than 800 comments on the first and second drafts of the Plan from residents, businesses and community organizations 

Feedback from these engagement activities directly informed the policies, mapping and priorities in the new Official Plan.

Key Highlights of the New Official Plan

 1. Growth Directed to Six Strategic Growth Areas

The Plan directs future mixed-use development and higher-density housing to six Strategic Growth Areas across the community. This approach will:

• Make better use of existing and planned infrastructure
• Support future public transit
• Encourage a wider range of housing options for residents at all life stages
• Achieve a balance between accommodating growth where appropriate and protecting the character of established neighbourhoods through clear design and transition policies

 2. Safer, More Complete Streets and Transportation Choices

The Plan also lays the groundwork for a more robust multi-modal transit strategy. New policies support safer, more accessible streets and a multimodal transportation network - making it easier to walk, cycle, and use transit. These updates will:

• Guide future road improvements and new connections
• Support safer crossings, traffic calming and better accessibility
• Help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support healthier, more active lifestyles

 3. Enhanced Environmental Protection and Climate Resilience

The Plan includes strengthened policies for: 

• Natural heritage protection and tree preservation
• Avoiding development in natural hazard areas
• Climate resilience and low-impact development
• Science-based decision making for development proposals 

These policies will help safeguard sensitive areas, protect watercourses and shorelines, and ensure long-term public safety.

 4. Inclusion of the First-Ever, West Wasaga Secondary Plan

For the first time, the Town’s Official Plan includes policies for the West End of Wasaga Beach. Developed through a four-day public design charette in June 2024, stakeholder meetings and a dedicated statutory public meeting, the West Wasaga Secondary Plan’s policies and mapping have been fully integrated into the new Official Plan. 

This ensures that future growth supports long-standing priorities of residents in the Town’s west-end, such as protecting natural features, supporting sustainable development patterns, and promoting high-quality design — values consistently emphasized throughout the public engagement process. 

Supporting Destination Wasaga 

The new Official Plan provides the planning framework needed to support Destination Wasaga – the Town’s long-term vision, in partnership with the Province of Ontario, to evolve Wasaga Beach into a globally-recognized recreation and nature-based destination, which will revitalize the beachfront and downtown, enhance key heritage sites like Nancy Island, and attract year-round tourism and jobs. 

By aligning growth around a multi-modal transit strategy, mixed-use areas and emphasizing high-quality urban design, the Plan helps ensure that new development near the beachfront and downtown complements Destination Wasaga projects and preserves public access to the Town’s iconic shoreline.  

A Roadmap for Responsible, Sustainable Growth

Wasaga Beach is one of Canada’s fastest-growing municipalities, with a population of approximately 25,000 expected to double over the next 30 years. The Official Plan provides a clear, responsible, long-term strategy to manage that growth. It:

• Supports complete, walkable, age-friendly communities
• Protects the environment and responds to climate change
• Encourages a strong, diverse local economy
• Guides consistent decisions for all future Councils 

“This Plan reflects years of collaboration and the ideas of thousands of residents,” added Mayor Smith. “It ensures that as we grow, we do so thoughtfully and sustainably, while preserving what makes Wasaga Beach special.” 

The Town will now begin the process of implementing the policies outlined in the Plan, including updates to zoning, transportation planning, and future growth strategies.

Next Steps

With the Official Plan now adopted by Town Council, the next steps include:

• Updating the Town’s Zoning By-law to align with the new policies
• Integrating the Plan into transportation, servicing and capital works planning
• Using the Plan to guide development applications and future growth strategies

Residents, landowners and businesses are encouraged to review the Plan to understand how it will guide future growth and what it means for their properties and neighbourhoods.

Learn more about the Official Plan at wasagabeach.com/OfficialPlan

Quick Facts

• Wasaga Beach is one of Canada’s fastest-growing municipalities, with the population of 25,000 expected to double over the next 30 years.
• The Town’s previous Official Plan was adopted in 2003 and did not include any reference to development in the west end of town.
• Since 2003, the Town’s population has grown over 65%.
• The new Official Plan will guide growth and development in Wasaga Beach until at least 2051.

About the Town of Wasaga Beach

The Town of Wasaga Beach aims to be a place where people come to create memories that will last a lifetime. The work that staff are doing to create a new Official Plan supports this vision and Council’s priorities: to create opportunities to diversify the economy, create jobs and build a complete community. It’s part of the Town’s plan to become a leader in sustainability, creativity, innovation and fun – a place with thriving businesses; safe, inclusive and complete neighbourhoods where we celebrate our rich history, diversity of cultures and natural beauty including the Nottawasaga River, Georgian Bay and the longest freshwater beach in the world.

-30-

Media Contact:
Sandra Watts
Director of Strategic Communications & Intergovernmental Affairs
sandra.watts@wasagabeach.com