Reports, Studies and Plans

Accessibility

View our Accessibility Plan. Learn more about our accessibility policies.

Annual Report

View our 2022 Annual Report.

Asset Management

We use asset management to determine how we allocate resources, use infrastructure and inform our decisions on how we use assets over their useful life, including:

• Building
• Operating
• Maintaining
• Renewing
• Replacing

Asset management plans identify municipal infrastructure needs and direct staff in advance of a major asset renewal or replacement. This helps us plan for major projects. A municipality's health can be measured by the quality of its infrastructure. Quality asset management promotes economic development, resident safety and provides a higher quality of life for all.

View our Asset Management Plan. Learn more about our Strategic Asset Management Policy.

As part of the Ontario Regulation (O. Reg. 588/17) the Town has prepared a document outlining our proposed levels of service. The Proposed Levels of Service is a minimum set to maintain the current levels of service and performance over the next 10 years. For the Town to continue to provide sustainable and affordable services it must continue to rely on two primary sources of funding: taxation for general services and utility rates for water and wastewater services. 

View our Proposed Levels of Service. 

Beach and Waterfront

• View our Beach Maintenance Plan or Waterfront Master Plan
• View our Port Elgin Waterfront Design Concept and Budget Allotment Plan
• View our Waterfront Best Management Principles

Bicycle Friendly Community

View our Bicycle Friendly Community Report Executive Summary or our Bicycle Friendly Community Report and Recommendations.

Budget Reports

• Municipal and departmental budgets
• Expenditures and revenues
• Taxation
• Operating and capital budgets
• Tax assessment and rate comparisons
• Reserves and reserve funds

Building Reports

View more information on our building reports.

Business Plan

Read the 2024 Business Plan and Budget to see the Town's Major Initiatives, Division & Capital Highlights and economic outlook, as well as key metrics to measure organizational performance.

Past Years

2023 Business Plan and Budget

Community Toolkits

View our Port Elgin Community Toolkit or our Southampton Community Toolkit.

Community Improvement Plans

A Community Improvement Plan (CIP) helps municipalities map out priorities and direction for local improvements to communities. View our Community Improvement Plans.

Each CIP states key areas for improvement and gives us direction to improve each downtown area.

Community Profile

View our more information on our Community Profile and Key Economic Indicators.

Community Safety and Well-Being Plan

In 2019, in response to the new legislation passed under the Police Services Act, the majority of the lower-tier Municipalities of Bruce and Grey Counties, including Saugeen Shores, joined forces with the Counties of Bruce and Grey, eight police services, fourteen police services boards, three boards of education, and twenty-nine education, health and social service agencies and community committees to undertake regional Community Safety and Well-Being Planning.

View our Community Safety Well-Being Plan.

Corporate Strategic Plan

Council has set its long-term plan for the municipality by approving the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. 

This document lays out how the community sees itself and what direction it wants Council to take.

View more information on our Corporate Strategic Plan.

Cottage Streets Study

The Town is conducting a study on considerations to designate certain roads as “Cottage Streets”.  These are streets in the Town’s urban beachfront areas that vary from typical engineering standards and generally have narrower rights-of-way.

Study Objectives

• Develop design standards for reconstruction of Cottage Streets
• Produce map/list of Cottage Streets
• Obtain Town Council direction on proposed design standards and candidate Cottage Streets
• Provide clarity for residents and Town staff when reconstructing identified Cottage Streets

The Town held two public sessions for this study:

Southampton Town Hall - November 28th, 2023 - 5 PM - 7 PM

Port Elgin - Rotary Hall (The Plex) - November 29th, 2023 - 5 PM - 7 PM

You can view that presentation here: Saugeen Shores Cottage Streets Public Information - Presentation

Design Guidelines and Façade Improvements

We have developed design guidelines and façade improvements for Port Elgin and Southampton.

Port Elgin

• Port Elgin Façade Improvement Guidelines
• Port Elgin Waterfront Design Concept & Budget Allotment

Southampton

• Southampton Downtown Facade Guidelines

Development Charges Study

2023 Development Charges Background Study - Final Report

2021 Development Charges Background Study

Drainage Master Plan

The purpose of the DMP is to define the existing condition of the drainage systems in the Town and provide recommendations for policies and capital projects that are required for a system that meets the Town's future needs. 

The study is broken into four (4) areas:

• Southampton south of the Saugeen River,
• Southampton north of the Saugeen River,
• Port Elgin,
• Rural areas.

Updates

• Notice of Study Commencement and Public Information Centre #1
• Notice of Public Information Centre #2
• Notice of Drainage Master Plan - Version #3

Town of Saugeen Shores Master Drainage Plan 

• DRAFT Master Drainage Plan (Version 3): Text and Appendices
• DRAFT Master Drainage Plan (Version 3): Mapbook A
• DRAFT Master Drainage Plan (Version 3): Mapbook B
• DRAFT Master Drainage Plan (Version 3): Mapbook C
• December 16, 2020 Public Information Centre
• Drainage Master Plan Presentation

Economic Development

Destination Development Plan

View the Town's Destination Development Plan 2025 - 2030

View our Economic Development Strategic Plan.

Tourism is identified as an economic driver in our community, and in October 2019 Council received the first Tourism Strategy for Saugeen Shores.

Incentive Program

Our Development Charges Incentive Program offers discounts of up to 50 per cent of some development charges for these developments:

• Affordable housing developments or redevelopments with a net increase of five or more dwelling units, and with a letter of support from the County of Bruce's director of human services
• Developments which provide for a secondary suite in a single detached dwelling at the time of building permit
• Hotel developments or redevelopments with a net increase of 50 rooms or more and meeting space of 60 m² or more
• Manufacturing developments or redevelopments with a net increase of floor space greater than 0 m²
• Office developments or redevelopments with an office space net increase of 2,000 m² with secured tenant(s) in nuclear support service business(es)
• Office and warehousing developments or redevelopments with a net increase of 4,000 m² of gross building floor area with secured tenant(s) in nuclear support service business(es)

View the program document or email Development Services for more information.

Starting a New Venture

View our Starting a New Venture Brochure.

Emergency Management

View our Community Emergency Management Plan.

Energy Consumption

View our Broader Public Sector Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan. View Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions annual reports for:

• 2012

• 2013

• 2014

• 2015

• 2016

• 2017
• 2018

Event Planning

View our Essential Event Planning Guide for events in Saugeen Shores.

Finance

Audited financial statements for the previous year with the Town of Saugeen Shores are usually available in July. View our Financial Statements.

In early 2021 the Town completed a review of general and administrative processes with a focus on select functions within the Finance Department. View the Finance Processes Review Report.

Inflow and Infiltration Study

Understanding where rainwater enters the sanitary sewer system, and recommending how to eliminate it are the basis of this study for the Southampton area.  The removal of this water entering the sanitary sewers reduces the cost of operating the Water Pollution Control (Sewage Treatment) Plant.

Information Technology

View our Joint IT Business Analysis: Final Report for Saugeen Shores.

Kolb Bridge EA Study

PlanMac Engineering Inc. has been engaged by the Town of Saugeen Shores to investigate the alternatives for the Kolb Bridge which was closed to all traffic in December of 2020.  The Kolb Bridge is located on Sideroad 13/14 just south of Concession 6. View the November 17^th, 2020 Public Meeting regarding the Kolb Bridge Temporary Closure. 

View the Kolb Bridge EA Presentation which summarizes the work completed to date on the Schedule ‘B’ Class Environmental Assessment (EA) and outlines the alternatives and the preliminary preferred alternative for the Kolb Bridge. 

The comment period is close. The comments and feedback received will be evaluated and the final preferred alternative will be selected.  All documentation will be consolidated into a final Project File Report (PFR) and presented at council in early 2022. 

View the Notice of Study Commencement Municipal Class EA. 

View the Municipal Class EA Schedule 'B' Notice of Completion 

View the Project File Report

Land Use Development Review

KPMG was hired to review the land use development (as distinct from infrastructure development) process in detail and offer their opinion on the best way forward in developing a modern, digitized, streamlined, and integrated building and planning process.

Through stakeholder engagement, interviews and staff focus groups, KPMG determined the current state of the process. Staff focus groups also helped develop a detailed mapping of key development processes. This analysis was used by KPMG to determine a set of detailed recommendations for consideration to improve the Town’s development process.

The following 13 recommendations were made:

1. Document and communicate standardized development review processes that clearly define key activities and stakeholders throughout the process. This will ensure each process has consistent and repeatable steps to enhance process efficiency.
2. Establish internal review timelines and circulation limits for application submissions to ensure comments are given and applications are processed in a timely manner.
3. Review and update the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County of Bruce to reflect the current state of service delivery.
4. Establish formal training and learning opportunities for staff to improve efficiency and quality of Development Services.
5. Establish an overarching Development Services governance structure to proactively monitor the development review process.
6. Establish a performance measurement framework to improve the management and evaluation of development services.
7. Based on the future state service delivery model, determine the feasibility of implementing a technology solution to digitize planning workflows.
8. Follow-up with the Cloudpermit vendor to request an integration between Cloudpermit and Bluebeam software.
9. Enable automated email notifications when a task is assigned in Cloudpermit.
10. Review current data storage solutions to determine the single source of truth.
11. Equip Development Services staff with analytics tools and training to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of reporting and support data-enabled decision-making.
12. The Town does not have a defined process to conduct a comprehensive review of the development fee structure on a periodic basis.
13. Review the process of collecting and releasing securities by defining roles and responsibilities between the Finance Division and Development Services to create efficiency within the process and further strengthen the relationship with the development community.
    
    Long Term Opportunity
14. Should the Town be unable to meet service level expectations despite implementation of all the above recommendations, KPMG also identified a long-term opportunity to explore the feasibility of an in-house planning department.

View the full Land Use Development Process Review.

McEwing Bridge EA Study

R.J. Burnside & Associates Limited has been engaged by the Town of Saugeen Shores to investigate options to replace the McEwing Bridge, located on Sideroad 18 & 19 at Concession 2.

The following Schedule ‘B’ Environmental Assessment (EA) Project File Report (PFR) has been created to provide information to the Town regarding replacement options.

View the McEwing Bridge EA PFR, which:

• Outlines existing conditions
• Identifies design criteria/parameters
• Outlines design options
• Analyzes and evaluate design options
• Recommends the preferred solution

View the Notice Of Study Commencement Municipal Class Environmental Assessment.

View the Notice Of Study Completion

Official Plan

View more information on our Official Plan.

Parks and Trails

The Town of Saugeen Shores is in the early stages of the Park Master Plan preparation for three (3) parks in both Southampton & Port Elgin:

1. Jubilee Park – 50 Victoria St South, Southampton
2. Helliwell Park – 98 Grenville St , Southampton
3. North Shore Park - 800 Stevens St, Port Elgin

Purpose

The purpose of preparing these Master Plans is to:

• guide the Town’s multi-year plan for park investment, and
• ensure the parks' proposed facilities and services are relevant to the community's current and future vision for these spaces.

Learn more about the Master Planning Process HERE

View our Parks and Trails Master Plan - 2004.

Planning Reports and Studies

View more information on our planning reports and studies.

Port Elgin Harbour

View our Port Elgin Harbour Strategic Assessment Final Report or our Port Elgin Harbour Strategic Assessment Presentation to Council.

Recreation, Sports and Aquatics

Recreation and Sports Reports

• Lamont Sports Park Business Plan 2020
• Recreation Master Plan

Aquatic Facility Reports

• YMCA Business Plan 2019
• Swimming Pool Conditions Report
• Next Wave Pool Study - Phase III
• Pool Location Review and Recommendation - November, 2017
• YMCA Information Night Presentation and Frequently Asked Questions - November 2018

Southampton Town Hall Architectural Reports

View our Southampton Town Hall and Library Feasibility Draft Drawings, the Thor Dingman Report on the Southampton Town Hall Assessment, our Southampton Town Hall Architectural Final Report, or our Southampton Town Hall and Library Architectural Feasibility & Design Study Presentation.

Southampton WPCP EA

The purpose of this study is to assess the capacity of the existing Southampton Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) and define the preferred alternatives for increasing the treatment capacity to meet growth. As such, a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) Schedule C is required.  Public consultation will occur throughout the project, which is being managed by Ainley and Associates for the Town.  Updates will be provided on the website throughout the project.

• Notice of Study Commencement 
• Materials from Public Information Centre (PIC) 1
• Southampton WPCP Expansion Class EA Public Information Centre (PIC) 2 - Display Boards With Voice Over
• Southampton WPCP Expansion Class EA Public Information Centre (PIC) 2 - Display Boards Without Voice Over
• Southampton WPCP Expansion Class EA Public Information Centre (PIC) 2 - Comment Sheet
• Notice of Completion

Streetscapes

Lots of community character comes from its downtown areas and the way people interact with streetscapes. People use roads, sidewalks, lighting, furniture and other street elements every day, year-round.

To better serve downtown businesses and to create better gathering places in downtown Port Elgin and Southampton, we plan for beautiful streetscapes that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors year-round.

View our Port Elgin Streetscape Plan.

Sidewalk Patio and Café Encroachment

View our Sidewalk Patio and Café Encroachment Policy.

The River Road EA Study 

The Town of Saugeen Shores is initiating a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) to consider options to address the erosion of the slope between The River Road and Burgoyne Creek. 

View the Environmental Assessment, Schedule B Project File Report.

View the Notice Of Study Commencement Municipal Class Environmental Assessment.

View the Notice of Study Completion 

Transportation Master Plan

The continuation of the Transportation Master Plan will happen through 2019 with completion in the Fall of 2019 with a Report being presented to Council.  Public information on the alternatives and draft recommendations will occur in the summer.  Updates will be posted to the Transportation page.

Urban Tree Canopy Plan

The Urban Tree Canopy Plan was approved in principle by Council on Monday December 16, 2024. It includes 22 recommendations which will guide actions over the next decade aiming to address critical areas impacting the health and growth of Saugeen Shores’ urban tree canopy.

Waste Management Master Plan

A plan for garbage and waste in the Town is needed in order to plan for an expansion of the existing landfill.  There is life left in the landfill but it is the time to start looking to the future.  This plan will be carried out by a consultant on behalf of the Town, and public consultation will occur.

View our Long-Term Waste Management Plan.

Water and Wastewater

Following the Notice of Completion, outlined below, the Town edited the Master Plan document based on feedback received after publishing the Notice of Completion. The Master Plan and Appendices have been updated.

Final Plan

Appendices