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04Issues & decisionsEast Zorra-Tavistock

Growth & planning

Where will Tavistock and Innerkip grow—and who pays first?

A boundary line can change a village for decades.

About this decision

A boundary line can change a village for decades. EZT and Oxford County are planning where Tavistock and Innerkip grow; residents deserve a clear comparison of land, homes, services and cost.

Open public question

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Answers & question historyCandidate or official? Explain your position →

East Zorra-Tavistock · Growth

A bigger boundary does not build a serviced neighbourhood.

TavistockInnerkip

1 · Where growth goes

Settlement boundary study

The Township and Oxford County commissioned WSP to study settlement expansion and secondary plans. A March 24, 2026 open house formed part of that process.

Question: Which lands are proposed, and why those lands?

2 · What gets planned

Secondary-plan policies

Land added to a settlement area needs detailed direction for its development. Show proposed land uses, connections and infrastructure alongside the boundary.

Question: What homes, services and public places does each proposal allow?

3 · What makes it possible

Servicing and future approvals

Growth still needs a public account of infrastructure capacity, funding, phasing and the approvals required for individual development proposals.

Question: Who pays, when is capacity available, and which existing residents are affected?

Ask the people in chargeWhat can be built, where, and on what infrastructure timetable?

Conceptual explainer, not a parcel map. The reviewed study notices do not establish an adopted final expansion boundary. The August County Official Plan briefing is a separate record.

Settlement expansion and secondary-plan studyMarch 24 open-house notice
Public question and answers

Who has explained their position?

Compare in depth
Compare the candidates →Open question →
Which growth areas should be serviced first, and what roads, parks and public-service commitments must come with them?
Person / officePublic record on this issueQuestion statusNext step
Philip SchaeferPhilip SchaeferMayor · East Zorra-TavistockNo public answer foundOn this issue: Supports infill, additional residential units and greater density to protect farmland.No contact recordedRead evidence
Answer or clarify
Bradley SmithBradley SmithDeputy Mayor · East Zorra-TavistockNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Steven Van WykSteven Van WykCouncillor · East Zorra-TavistockNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
SZScott ZehrWard 1 councillor · East Zorra-TavistockNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Scott RudyScott RudyCouncillor · East Zorra-TavistockNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Matthew GillespieMatthew GillespieCouncillor · East Zorra-TavistockNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Jeremy SmithJeremy SmithCouncillor · East Zorra-TavistockNo public answer foundOn this issue: Wants to help finish the secondary plan and address possible Woodstock boundary discussions.No contact recordedRead evidence
Answer or clarify
Don EdmistonDon EdmistonMayor · East Zorra-TavistockNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Nicolas FayeNicolas FayeCouncillor · East Zorra-TavistockNo public answer foundOn this issue: Supports directing development to settlement areas and existing infrastructure before productive farmland.No contact recordedRead evidence
Answer or clarify
Jon RossJon RossCouncillor · East Zorra-TavistockNo public answer foundOn this issue: Prioritizes farmland and growth within settlement boundaries.No contact recordedRead evidence
Answer or clarify
Angie BrennerAngie BrennerCouncillor · East Zorra-TavistockNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Don ChowanDon ChowanCouncillor · East Zorra-TavistockNo public answer foundNo contact recordedOpen question
Answer or clarify
Sheri KarelsenSheri KarelsenCouncillor · East Zorra-TavistockNo public answer foundOn this issue: Gives food production and farmland priority over development.No contact recordedRead evidence
Answer or clarify

What the evidence establishes

The choices on the table

These are editorial alternatives to test, not attributed candidate promises.

Service existing neighbourhoods first

Editorial option: Compare infill and redevelopment capacity against expansion. Publish any limits on housing supply, infrastructure and community facilities.

Phase expansion around funded infrastructure

Editorial option: For each growth area, show the homes or jobs expected, infrastructure trigger, responsible government, funding source and earliest credible service date.

How we got here

  1. Consultation

    Growth consultation announced

    The notice identifies Tavistock and Innerkip and an open house on March 24.

    March 2026 growth-plan open house notice
  2. Related planning process

    County-wide plan update presented

    County planners presented visioning opportunities and a project timeline; this was not adoption of EZT’s secondary plan.

    EZT Council highlights: County Official Plan update

Questions that still deserve an explanation

  • Which proposed expansion areas rank best for servicing cost and delivery time?
  • How much growth can existing village areas accommodate before more land is added?
  • Which streets, parks and public facilities must be funded before the next development phase?
Read and support the public questionCandidate or official? Answer it
Sources and corrections

Reviewed Oct 1, 2026. Original records may describe earlier events.

Submit a correction or newer source

Follow this issue into the money

The money connected to this issue

Separate records and funding scopes; amounts are not added together.

Project and budget details (4)

County · Water, drainage & wastewater

Tavistock Well 4: added water supply

Drill and test a production well on Hope Street West to increase water supply capacity and backup.

East Zorra-Tavistock

August target passed; completion not yet verified
2026 allocation
$798,000
Named supplier
AECOM Canada ULC
Next target
No next date listed
Latest update
2025-12-10 · 2026 Business Plan and Budget approval

County · Roads & bridges

William Street sanitary pumping station

Sanitary pumping station and associated trunk sewer planning in Tavistock.

East Zorra-Tavistock

Survey work announced for June and July 2026
2026 allocation
$712,000
Named supplier
Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Next target
No next date listed
Latest update
2026-07-06 · Survey week
Who’s actually in charge?
01

East Zorra-Tavistock council

Municipal services, local roads, recreation, zoning and the local budget.

Explore this level →
02

Oxford County

County roads, water and wastewater, housing services, paramedics and County planning.

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