Residents Judy Briggs and Curtis Merritt in the past six months have met about six times with Planning staff to work out differences and ensure that language in the Ontario Plan protects rural lifestyles.

When the Web-based plan - which provides a 20-year outlook for the city - was initially presented last year to the public, residents were not pleased with an amendment that would have changed the zoning of 39 acres to prohibit larger lots and animal keeping.

"The finished product improves the Ontario Plan overall and protects our area. It's what we wanted all along," Merritt said.

The group of residents - known as REAL Ontario - eventually got the City Council to overturn a Planning Commission ruling and maintain that the southern part of the city stay designated as rural residential.