Shorelines are special places. They have tremendous ecological, aesthetic, recreational, social and economic value. To many people, shorelines represent assets to their property; to others, they are unique public places that can offer special recreational, shopping, dining and social experiences.

The purpose of the Municipality's Sustainable Shoreline Study is to:

• Develop detailed planning directions for all lands within proximity to the Municipality's lakes and rivers, including Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, the Thames River, the Sydenham River and the Chenal Ecarte (Snye River), as well as the shorelines themselves
• Take a balanced approach to planning, in which economic growth can occur without compromising natural and cultural heritage resources
• Improve the quality of life and the natural environment, while advancing economic development objectives and using resources wisely

The Study is not intended to:

• Establish or amend guidelines or regulations that are beyond the Municipality's jurisdiction (ie. Conservation Authority or Ministry of Natural Resources regulations)
• Form the basis of an expropriation or acquisition of private lands for public purposes

The study will result in the development of a Community Plan and/or Secondary Plan(s) that will contain policies and strategies to guide development along our shorelines and lands adjacent to our shorelines. These policies will be included and form part of the current Chatham-Kent Official Plan, which is the leading document guiding Council's land use decisions.

Final Copies of the Chatham-Kent Shoreline Areas Community Sustainability Plan and Secondary Plan

Attached below are copies of the final Community Sustainability Plan and the Seconday Plan that were approved by Council at the Planning Council Meeting on April 11, 2011.

Community Sustainability Plan

Secondary Plan


Attached below is a copy of the Final Towards a Sustainable Shoreline Strategy: Framework Report

Framework Report


Work Plan for the Shoreline Strategy
February 2010 - April 2011


Phase 1: Information gathering (Complete)

Environmental Scan and Land Use Survey

Phase 1 - Final Report

Appendix A - Map Schedules for Lake Erie Shoreline Area

Schedule A - Lake Erie Existing Land Use
Schedule B - Lake Erie Natural Environment
Schedule C - Lake Erie Infrastructure

Appendix B - Map Schedules for Lake St. Clair Shoreline Area

Schedule A - Lake St. Clair Existing Land Use
Schedule B - Lake St. Clair Natural Environment
Schedule C - Lake St. Clair Infrastructure

Appendix C - Map Schedules for Thames River Shoreline Area

Schedule A - Thames River Existing Land Use
Schedule B - Thames River Natural Environment
Schedule C - Thames River Infrastructure

Appendix D - Map Schedules for Sydenham River Shoreline Area

Schedule A - Sydenham River Existing Land Use
Schedule B - Sydenham River Natural Environment
Schedule C - Sydenham River Infrastructure

Appendix E - Map Schedules for the Chenal Ecarte Shoreline Area

Schedule A - Chenal Ecarte Existing Land Use
Schedule B - Chenal Ecarte Natural Environment
Schedule C - Chenal Ecarte Infrastructure

Background Reports

Infrastructure Review
Natural Heritage - Areas of Policy Interest Mapping
Natural Heritage - Areas of Policy Interest Memo
Overview of the Shoreline Area within the study
Growth Management Review
Shoreline Area Natural Heritage System Table
Shoreline Area Natural Heritage System Memo
Sustainability Best Practices Review

Phase 2: First Consultation (Complete)

On June 22, 2010, a Steering Committee meeting and public open house was held to introduce the study and to obtain public input.  During the open house the public broke out into working groups to discuss the assets, opportunities, constraints and issues of the shoreline areas, and to discuss the seven draft vision statements. A copy of the presentation and a summary of the workshop are attached below.

June 22, 2010 public open house - PRESENTATION
Summary of June 22, 2010 public workshop

Phase 3: Vision and Strategy Development (Complete)

Using the valuable comments and input from the first public open house the consulting team identified the following documents:

• Final draft of the assets, opportunities, constraints and issues
• Final draft of the vision statements
• First draft of the community sustainability strategies

These draft documents were presented to the public at the second series of public open houses.

Phase 4: Second Consultation (Complete)

On September 29 and 30, 2010 a second series of public open houses were held in Chatham, Wallaceburg and Erieau to review the study's purpose, background information, draft vision statements and key issues, and options to obtain public input to assist in the development of the Plan. The meetings in Chatham and Wallaceburg included a break out workshop similar to the first public open house however; due to the large number of participants at the Erieau meeting the break out workshop was not possible.

In order to develop the final plans with policies that reflect the interests and priorities of the people in Chatham-Kent, we need your input, especially from those individuals that attended the public open house in Erieau, that didn't have the opportunity to participate in a break out workshop.  You are strongly encouraged to complete the attached questionnaire no later than November 5, 2010.

A copy of the presentation and the workshop questionnaire are attached below.

September 29, 2010 - Public Open House - NOTICE
September 29, 30, 2010 - Public Open House - PRESENTATION

Workshop Questionnaire / Comment Form - PDF
Workshop Questionnaire / Comment Form - Microsoft Word document


Phase 5: Current Phase (Complete)

Final Framework Report and Mapping - Complete

Framework Report - December 2010
Framework Report Mapping - December 2010

Sustainable Community Plan/Secondary Plan  

• Preparation of Draft Sustainable Community Plan
• Preparation of Secondary Plan(s)
• Preparation Draft Implementation Strategy

Public Input and Consultation - January 8, 2011 (Complete)

Saturday, January 8, 2011, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Civic Centre Council Chambers, 315 King Street West, Chatham
9:00 am - 10:00 am - Open House & Review of Display Materials
10:00 am - 10:30 am - Presentation
10:30 am - 12:00 pm - Question and Answer Period


Saturday, January 8, 2011, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Glad Tidings Community Church, 403 Chatham Street S., Blenheim
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Open House & Review of Display Materials
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm - Presentation
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm - Question and Answer Period 

Notice of Public Open House - January 8, 2011
Newsletter - December 2010
Overview of Recommended Strategies
Powerpoint Presentation - January 8, 2011
Question and Answer Form for Public Open House
Comment Form for Public Open House

Draft Community Sustainability Plan and Secondary Plan

Draft Community Sustainability Plan
Draft Secondary Plan - Text
Draft Secondary Plan - Schedule A1-A11
Draft Secondary Plan - Schedule F1

Final Phase: Current Phase

Revisions to the Shoreline Area Sustainable Community Plan/Secondary Plan based on input received during the January 8, 2011 open houses.

• Steering Committee Meeting - January 13, 2011 - complete
• Statutory Public Meeting - March 21, 2011  - complete
• Council to Consider the Shoreline Area Sustainable Community Plan/Secondary Plan - April 11, 2011