A group of concerned landowners has launched a legal appeal of Lambton County's draft official plan.
The document outlines county policy for land use as well as environmental, social and economic matters.
Concerned Landowners legal defence spokesperson Elizabeth Davis-Dagg says they've hired the London legal firm Cohen Highley to prepare a legal letter that identifies specific sections of the document that they believe need to be changed before being passed.
"Various people have made input, I know personally I have spoken to council in the past, but, I think the community has only awoken in the last two months and particularly the last couple of weeks about what's really been going on," says Davis-Dagg. "The official plan has been in the public process for over a year, but unfortunately the people weren't really aware what was happening and aware of its content. So, it's taken this effort to actually bring them up to speed and make them aware that there are some very serious changes, which are going to arise from this official plan if it's passed in its current form."
Davis-Dagg is particularly concerned about an expansion to the number of feet around unprotected natural areas to 400 ft.
"If you do any development, you would have to do an environmental impact study, which can cost between $10,000 and $50,000. There's a lot of things like that which are challenging and important to take note of," she says.
Davis-Dagg says she's received as many as 300 endorsements for the letter so far.
"I encourage people to go to www.lambtonshores-e-luminator.com. Read the legal letter, read the attachments, as far as reference documents and if they want to endorse, e-mail me to get their name on the endorsement list before noon [Tuesday at elizabethdavisdagg@gmail.com]."
Davis-Dagg says they would still like a third party who understands and appreciates private property rights, to review the official plan and make further changes.
A sub-committee comprised of county councillors and staff from the county's planning and development services department will report back to county council with recommendations on the draft February 1.
County council will then decide whether to approve the document or send it back for further revisions.