Amherstburg meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Amherstburg council agenda includes new Official Plan adoption, policing options, and three planning public hearings

Amherstburg's council and committees held a busy stretch of meetings from July 7–13, 2026, covering drainage assessments, minor variances, heritage designations, and major planning items. However, minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, so outcomes and vote tallies cannot be confirmed at this time. What follows is based on the published agendas only.

Council to consider adopting new Official Plan

The July 13 Regular Council Meeting agenda listed adoption of a new Town of Amherstburg Official Plan, which would guide future land use and development. Council was also scheduled to receive a report on policing options after the current contract ends December 31, 2028, with correspondence from the OPP, Windsor, and LaSalle included.

Other agenda items included amendments to the By-Law Enforcement Policy, an update on the provincial expansion of bring-your-own alcohol event permits, and a proclamation of August 1 as Emancipation Day, requested by the Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

Three statutory public hearings on planning matters

Also on July 13, a Special Council Meeting focused on planning was set to hold statutory public meetings to receive comments — not make final decisions — on three items:

• Official Plan Amendment #30 and Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA-02-26 for a development at 13 Sandwich Street South. The agenda included traffic impact and noise reports for the site.
• Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA-03-26 for vacant land at 0 Victoria Street South, north of Richmond Street.
• An amendment to the Economic Development Community Improvement Plan.

Comments from these hearings were to be considered at a future meeting.

Drainage Board: Shuell Line Drain appeals and assessments

On July 7, the Drainage Board agenda included hearing appeals from the Court of Revision regarding the Shuell Line Drain improvements and considering approval of a recommended assessment schedule from Dillon Consulting. The board was also scheduled to consider drainage apportionment B/01/26 for a municipal drain and receive minutes from its June 2, 2026 meeting.

Committee of Adjustment: two minor variance hearings

The July 8 Committee of Adjustment agenda listed public hearings and decisions on two minor variance applications:

• Application B/22-23/26 for minor variances at 7551 and 7641 North Townline (County Road 8), submitted by Joel Beziare.
• Application A/10/26 for a minor variance at 1400 Front Road North, submitted by John Faucher.

Both applications were recommended for approval subject to conditions.

Heritage Committee: easement for former General Amherst High School

The July 9 Heritage Committee agenda included discussion of a heritage easement agreement for 130 Sandwich Street South, the former General Amherst High School. The agenda noted a letter of objection from the owner, Valente Development Inc.

The committee was also scheduled to consider a notice of intention to designate 429 Bois Blanc Blvd — including its dance hall, roller rink, and northern washroom — under the Ontario Heritage Act. Heritage alteration permits on the agenda included HAP-08/2026 for a painted mural at 89 Rankin Avenue (Richmond Terrace) and HAP-07/2026 for front porch and door relocation at 284 George Street. A project update on the Building Condition Assessment RFP award for the Carnegie Library was also listed.

Coming up

Two committee meetings are scheduled for the week of July 20, but neither agenda lists substantive items:

• **July 22 — Audit and Finance Advisory Committee:** No business items listed.
• **July 23 — Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee:** No substantive items listed.

Residents should watch for published minutes from the July 7–13 meetings, which will confirm what was actually decided and how council and committee members voted.

Amherstburg council set to vote on new Official Plan; recent drainage, variance, and heritage items await minutes

Amherstburg's most consequential upcoming decision lands today, July 13, when Regular Council considers adopting a new Town of Amherstburg Official Plan to guide future land use and development. Several recent meetings — Drainage Board, Committee of Adjustment, and Heritage Committee — were held over the past week, but minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes are not yet confirmed in the public record.

Drainage Board — July 7

The Drainage Board agenda included appeals from the Court of Revision regarding the Shuell Line Drain improvements and consideration of a recommended schedule of assessment from Dillon Consulting. Also listed was drainage apportionment B/01/26 for a municipal drain, and receipt of minutes from the June 2, 2026 meeting.

Because minutes have not yet been published, it is not possible to confirm whether the assessment schedule or apportionment was approved, or how any appeals were resolved.

Committee of Adjustment — July 8

The Committee of Adjustment was scheduled to hold public hearings and decide on two minor variance applications:

• Application B/22-23/26 for 7551 and 7641 North Townline (County Rd 8), submitted by Joel Beziare.
• Application A/10/26 for 1400 Front Road North, submitted by John Faucher.

Both applications were recommended for approval subject to conditions, according to the agenda. Final decisions are not yet confirmed in the public record.

Heritage Committee — July 9

The Heritage Committee agenda featured several notable items:

• A heritage easement agreement for 130 Sandwich Street South, the former General Amherst High School. The agenda notes a letter of objection from owner Valente Development Inc.
• A notice of intention to designate 429 Bois Blanc Blvd — including its dance hall, roller rink, and northern washroom — under the Ontario Heritage Act.
• Heritage Alteration Permit HAP-08/2026 for a painted mural at 89 Rankin Avenue (Richmond Terrace).
• Heritage Alteration Permit HAP-07/2026 for front porch and door relocation at 284 George Street.
• A project update on the Building Condition Assessment RFP award for the Carnegie Library.

Minutes have not yet been published, so committee recommendations and any votes are not confirmed.

Coming up

• **July 13 — Special Council Meeting (Planning):** Statutory public hearings on three items — Official Plan Amendment #30 and Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA-02-26 for 13 Sandwich St S; Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA-03-26 for vacant land at 0 Victoria St S (north of Richmond St); and an amendment to the Economic Development Community Improvement Plan. No final decisions will be made; comments will be considered at a future meeting.
• **July 13 — Regular Council Meeting:** Council will consider adopting the new Town of Amherstburg Official Plan, receive a report on policing options after the current contract ends December 31, 2028 (with correspondence from OPP, Windsor, and LaSalle), discuss amendments to the By-Law Enforcement Policy, review the provincial expansion of bring-your-own alcohol event permits, and consider a proclamation of August 1 as Emancipation Day (Amherstburg Freedom Museum).
• **July 22 — Audit and Finance Advisory Committee:** No business items listed on the agenda.
• **July 23 — Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee:** No substantive items listed on the agenda.

Residents seeking confirmed outcomes from the July 7–9 meetings should watch for published minutes on the Town of Amherstburg's official meeting portal.

Amherstburg council set to adopt new Official Plan; drainage, heritage and planning hearings fill July agenda

Amherstburg residents have a busy two weeks ahead, with council scheduled to vote on adopting a new town-wide Official Plan on July 13 and several committees weighing drainage assessments, minor variances, and heritage designations in the days before.

Recent meetings: minutes not yet published

Council held a regular meeting on June 23 with several items on the agenda, including proposed drainage improvements to the Willow Beach Drainage System and Pump Drain, appointment of engineer Josh Warner, and an amending by-law (2026-037) for the Bondy Bastien Drain. The agenda also listed amendments to the Workplace Violence, Harassment, and Discrimination Prevention Policy and approval of four special events: the Bob Meloche Kids Fishing Derby, Art Crawl, Amherstburg's Gone Car Crazy (with a road closure), and the Super Santa Run/Walk/Wheel (with a fee waiver). Council was also set to receive a letter from the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding stormwater fees regulations.

However, minutes for the June 23 meeting have not yet been published, so it is not confirmed which items were approved or how any votes were recorded.

The Amherstburg Environmental Advisory Committee met June 24 and the Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee met June 25. Both agendas contained only procedural boilerplate with no substantive items listed.

Coming up: Drainage Board — July 7

The Drainage Board will hear appeals from the Court of Revision regarding the Shuell Line Drain improvements and consider approving a recommended schedule of assessment from Dillon Consulting. The board will also consider drainage apportionment B/01/26 for a municipal drain and receive minutes from its June 2, 2026 meeting.

Coming up: Committee of Adjustment — July 8

The Committee of Adjustment will hold public hearings and decide on two minor variance applications:

• Application B/22-23/26 for 7551 and 7641 North Townline (County Rd 8), submitted by Joel Beziare.
• Application A/10/26 for 1400 Front Road North, submitted by John Faucher.

Both applications are recommended for approval subject to conditions.

Coming up: Heritage Committee — July 9

The Heritage Committee will discuss a heritage easement agreement for 130 Sandwich Street South, the former General Amherst High School. The owner, Valente Development Inc., has submitted a letter of objection.

The committee will also consider a notice of intention to designate 429 Bois Blanc Blvd — including its dance hall, roller rink, and northern washroom — under the Ontario Heritage Act. Heritage alteration permits are on the agenda for a painted mural at 89 Rankin Avenue (HAP-08/2026) and front porch and door relocation at 284 George Street (HAP-07/2026). A project update on the Building Condition Assessment RFP award for the Carnegie Library is also listed.

Coming up: Special Council Meeting (Planning) — July 13

Council will hold statutory public meetings to receive comments on three planning items. No final decisions will be made at this meeting; comments will be considered at a future meeting.

• Official Plan Amendment #30 and Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA-02-26 for a development at 13 Sandwich Street South. Traffic impact and noise reports are included.
• Zoning By-law Amendment ZBA-03/26 for vacant land at 0 Victoria Street South, north of Richmond Street.
• An amendment to the Economic Development Community Improvement Plan.

Coming up: Regular Council Meeting — July 13

Later the same day, council will consider adopting a new Town of Amherstburg Official Plan, which would guide future land use and development. Council will also receive a report on policing options after the current contract ends December 31, 2028, with correspondence from the OPP, Windsor, and LaSalle. Other items include amendments to the By-Law Enforcement Policy, an update on provincial expansion of bring-your-own alcohol event permits, and a proclamation of August 1 as Emancipation Day, requested by the Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

Drainage improvements, special events considered by Amherstburg council

Amherstburg town council considered a series of drainage infrastructure projects and approved a slate of community events at its June 23 regular meeting, according to the meeting agenda. Minutes of the meeting have not yet been published, so specific vote tallies and debate details are not available.

Drainage upgrades

Council members were asked to endorse recommendations from the drainage board that would advance improvements to the Willow Beach Drainage System and the Pump Drain. The agenda item included the formal appointment of engineer Josh Warner to oversee the work.

A separate item proposed an amending by-law for the Bondy Bastien Drain, suggesting adjustments to an existing drainage project. No dollar figures were listed in the agenda materials.

Special events

The council was set to approve four upcoming community events, including a road closure for Amherstburg’s Gone Car Crazy car show and a fee waiver for the Super Santa Run/Walk/Wheel. The other two events, the Bob Meloche Kids Fishing Derby and the Art Crawl, required council sign-off but did not include requests for road closures or fee relief.

Policy and correspondence

Council also reviewed amendments to the town’s Workplace Violence, Harassment, and Discrimination Prevention Policy. The revisions were listed as an action item on the agenda, though no specifics about the changes were detailed.

The town received a letter from Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding regulations related to stormwater fees. The letter was placed on the correspondence portion of the agenda.

Other meetings

The Amherstburg Environmental Advisory Committee met on June 24 and the Accessibility Advisory Committee convened on June 25. Both meetings were procedural in nature, containing no substantive items for discussion or decision, according to their published agendas.

Coming up

No meetings are currently scheduled for the next two weeks, according to the town’s online calendar.