Development Applications

Application for Official Plan Amendment evaluation

When considering an official plan amendment Staff evaluates the merits of the proposal against criteria such as:

• the Provincial Policy Statements and Growth Plan
• conformity with the existing Official Plan Policies
• conformity with the City's Vision Statement
• information and studies provided by the applicant
• adequacy of vehicular access, water supply and sewage disposal
• changing economic and development circumstances

Rights of Appeal

Appealing a planning decision to the OMB is a serious matter.  It can take considerable time and effort and in some cases, money for everyone involved.  A hearing may last only a few hours if the matter is quite simple, but for more complicated matters, a hearing can last for several days or even weeks.

Appeals to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB):

• A proponent of an Official Plan Amendment may appeal to the OMB if Council fails to give notice of a public meeting on a Request to Amend within 45 days of the receipt of the prescribed information by the municipality;
• A proponent of an Official Plan Amendment may appeal to the OMB if Council refuses or fails to act on a request to amend within 90 days of the receipt of the prescribed information by the municipality;
• Any person or public body may appeal Council's adoption within 20 days from the date the Notice of Adoption is given;
• Any person or public body may appeal to the OMB, if the approval authority fails to give notice of its decision regarding part(s) or all of the plan/amendment within 90 days of the receipt of the prescribed information by the approval authority.

Notice of Appeal must be filed with City Clerk and accompanied by written reasons for the appeal and the fee required by the OMB. In your notice of appeal you must specify if you are appealing all or part(s) of the amendment. The City must send your appeal with the accompanying materials and the appropriate fee to the OMB within 15 days of the receipt of your appeal.

In cases of appeal, the OMB will hold a hearing. You will be given the chance to present your case. The OMB can allow or dismiss your appeal, approve, approve as modified or refuse to approve all or part of the plan or amendment. The OMB also has the power to dismiss an appeal without holding a hearing.

The OMB will make a decision based on the facts presented at a hearing.

The OMB is an independent administrative tribunal responsible for hearing land use planning appeals.

Applicants are responsible for all costs associated with third party OMB appeals and municipal peer reviews of background reports.  Deposits are required upon receipt of an appeal and/or the request for peer review in accordance with the City's Fees By-law.

Other approvals and review fees

In addition to planning approvals other approvals and permits may be required in certain circumstances. These may include:

• companion Planning Act applications for rezoning
• draft plan of subdivision and/or draft plan of condominium
• approvals may be required from other agencies including the Conservation Authority, Ministry of Natural Resources or the Trent-Severn Waterway before you begin any construction

Staff will provide assistance in determining the appropriate Conservation Authority having jurisdiction over the project as well as the appropriate application fees.

The Building Division will be circulated where development is proposed on either partial or private services, which involves servicing by private well and septic systems not subject to Ministry of Environment approval.

Please note that the Conservation Authority and the Building Division may also charge additional review fees beyond the application fees.

 Official Plan Amendments currently under review