Lanark County Council Highlights – April 8, 2026

Press Release – Lanark County 

Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held April 8, 2026.

Affordable housing Official Plan Amendment approved

Lanark County Council has adopted Official Plan Amendment (OPA) No. 16, which adds policies to the County’s Official Plan related to affordable housing.

Planning Manager Mike Dwyer explained the policies “are intended to be enabling and supportive, not prescriptive” and they are based on recommendations in the “Lanark County & Town of Smiths Falls Municipal Tools to Support Affordable Housing (2022)” report.

“It leaves significant discretion to local municipalities, recognizing opportunities and constraints differ across the county,” he said.

Council considered and approved proposed changes in November and a policy-by-policy review was completed in January, followed by public notice on January 16 and a public meeting on February 18. Dwyer reviewed written comments received from stakeholders as part of the review and engagement process, and the changes made in response. 

In a report to the economic development committee last month, Dwyer indicated the amendments have regard for provincial interests and are consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement (PPS). “They generate a policy framework around affordable housing that provides direction to local plans that will support and enable affordable housing and additional needs housing.”

The policies also detail county initiatives and support both market and more traditional service-provider solutions to the range of housing options needed. 

Dwyer added there are limits to the county’s regulatory authority to require and prescribe affordable housing in local municipalities, but this blend of policies combined with local refinement and implementation “will best achieve the intent of the PPS.”

The amendments include details about:

• Aligning the definition of “affordable” with the PPS
• Planning and designating land to accommodate a 15-year projection of demand
• Establishing municipal housing targets in local official plans
• The county selling or leasing county-owned surplus lands related to affordable and/or supportive housing, and encouraging local municipalities to adopt similar policies
• Mixed-use developments in serviced communities as appropriate, and defining strategic growth areas
• Permitting Additional Residential Units (ARUs) in local official plans as appropriate
• Affordable housing developments receiving financial or non-financial assistance from the county having at least 25 per cent of affordable units meeting or exceeding accessibility requirements
• Locally appropriate approaches to shared housing models
• References to “affordable and additional needs housing” rather than “social assisted housing for households and seniors"
• County coordination of land use planning and planning for housing with the county’s service manager related to county plans and studies.

For more information, contact Mike Dwyer, Planning Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1520.

Section of Ottawa Valley Recreation Trail to be renamed

Lanark County Council has approved naming a portion of the Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail (OVRT) from Beckwith Township through Carleton Place for volunteer Ian Edwards to honour his extensive contributions to the county’s trails network.

CAO Kurt Greaves said the Lanark County Trails Sub-Committee wanted to see Edwards recognized for his contribution. He outlined his involvement as an active representative of the sub-committee and the local snowmobile and ATV community, as well as his numerous contributions to the trails, including:

• Designing and obtaining approvals for the replacement of the Baird Trail boardwalk and leading a crew of volunteers to complete it
• Looking after annual repairs to the Fall River Bridge on the Tay-Havelock Trail and coordinating volunteers and supply purchases
• Securing a grant from the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs for upgrades and conversion of the Carleton Place train bridge on the OVRT to a trail bridge

Edwards received a Lanark County Award of Excellence in 2018 for Volunteerism/Community Service/Recreation. Greaves noted he was active in Carleton Place and the surrounding community, including involvement with the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital Foundation, Mississippi Golf Club, Upper Canada Snowmobile Region, Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, Beautiful Eastern Association of Snowmobile Trails and Lanark County Crime Stoppers. He passed away in June 2025. 

Warden Richard Kidd (Beckwith Reeve) said since knowing Edwards for most of his life, he was honoured to be part of this important tribute.

“Ian was an incredible volunteer who did a tremendous amount of work to enhance our trails network. We are grateful for his contributions, which have benefitted so many residents and visitors in Lanark County.”

For more information, contact Kurt Greaves, CAO, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1101.

New no-parking zones established

Lanark County Council has amended its consolidated traffic by-law to designate no-parking zones on sections of Lally Road, South Lavant Road and Highway 511.

In a recent report, Public Works Manager Sam Poole said they had received multiple complaints, along with internal staff observations, regarding vehicles parking unsafely on county roads in winter conditions at specific locations on these roads. “The areas have been identified as public safety issues if current parking practices continue.”

Concerns included vehicles blocking the roadway for snow removal and causing safety issues for residents and through traffic due to narrow road platforms, curves and hills preventing safe roadside parking. 

The affected areas are as follows:

• Lally Road (County Road 21) – both sides from 350 metres east and 150 metres west of Murphys Point Group Camp Road
• South Lavant Road (County Road 16) – both sides from 200 metres east and 400 metres west of Bottle Lake Road
• Highway 511 (County Road 511) – both sides from 600 metres south and 150 metres north of Radley Lane

The affected areas will be marked with “no parking” signage.

For more information, contact Sam Poole, Public Works Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 3116.

Upcoming meetings

• County Council, Wednesday, April 22, 5 p.m.
• Public Works, April 22 (following County Council)
• Economic Development, April 22 (following Public Works)
• County Council, Wednesday, May 13, 5 p.m.
• Community Services, May 13 (following County Council)
• Corporate Services, May 13 (following Community Services)

Watch for details about public access to meetings on agendas and through online notifications. For more information, contact 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502. Like “LanarkCounty1” on Facebook and follow “@LanarkCounty1” on Instagram.