Project Update - April 17, 2026

The Draft Engagement Phase is now open! The Draft Amendments, along with an easy to use set of Fact Sheets are now available for public review in the Document Library. The Draft Amendments are still subject to change. Public feedback is a critical component to making sure the project team has gotten the agricultural policies and regulations right so that they work for the residents of Pictou County. We want to hear what you think!

There are multiple ways to share your input:

• Leave us a comment on the Draft Zoning Map activity below
• Fill out the online Feedback From below
• Join us for one of the in-person engagement sessions (details in the Key Dates section)
• Join us for the online engagement session on May 6th (register here)
• Send us an email at consultation@uplandstudio.ca

Some questions to consider when providing feedback:

• Are the uses permitted in the A1 Zone appropriate? Are there any that should be added or removed?
• Are there areas where the boundaries of the A1 Zone should be adjusted? Please let us know why you think a boundary should be adjusted.
• Does allowing subdivision of one lot per year provide an appropriate balance between protecting agricultural operations/good soils and flexibility for farmers and other landowners?
• Do you agree with applying the subdivision limitations to just Class 2 soils and active farms in the A1 Zone? Are there lands that should be removed or added?

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us!

New to the project? Watch the "Exploring the Options Introductory Presentation" to learn more.
Engagement is open from April 17th to May 10th, 2026.

About the Project

Pictou County has recently adopted its first-ever Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw, bringing comprehensive land use planning to the municipality for the first time. Because past planning efforts faced strong opposition—particularly from the agricultural community—the new plans were intentionally designed with a “light touch.” However, the Province has since directed the Municipality to update these documents to better protect agricultural land and align with provincial policy, with changes required by Summer 2026.

This project focuses on developing those required updates in a way that both meets provincial requirements and reflects the realities of farming in Pictou County. During earlier engagement, farmers shared concerns that planning could make an already challenging industry more difficult. At the same time, many also expressed worries about residential development encroaching on farmland and saw value in planning as a way to protect agricultural operations from land use conflicts.

This work builds on those conversations and aims to create agricultural policies and regulations that support farmers rather than hinder them. Meaningful engagement with the residents of MOPC will be a crucial component of this project.