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02-02-2006, 11:44 AM
Click here (http://www.kingstonelectors.ca/article.php?id=346)or see below for an article on the Proposed changes to Ontario’s land-use planning system - a meeting with John Gerretsen.
Notes from the January 28, 2006 Kingston Electors meeting with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Minister John Gerretsen spoke with Kingston Electors January 28, 2006. He circulated a brief handout, spoke for 20 minutes, then entertained questions for nearly an hour longer. This is an entirely unofficial summary of the afternoon discussion.
Transcription of Minister Gerretsen’s handout
Proposed changes to Ontario’s land-use planning system
Context for change
Ontario’s population to increase by four million by 2031
Current growth patterns strain our infrastructure and quality of life
Through our planning reform agenda, McGuinty government is promoting compact communities with good access to services and mix of housing and jobsAchievements to date
Proposed legislation is part of series of related initiatives
New Provincial Policy Statement (March 2005)
Strong Communities [planning amendment] Act, 2004
Greenbelt Plan
Places to Grow Act, 2005 Improving the planning process
Proposed reforms would move information sharing and public engagement to front end of process
Proposed reforms would make planning system more accountable, effective, and transparent
Ontario Municipal Board to have regard for municipal council decisions
Up-to-date official plans and zoning by-laws
New requirements for complete applications
Enhanced early consultation with municipalities and public
Limited appeal rights on proposals to convert employment lands
Planning approvals based on current provincial policies Sustainable well-designed communities
Proposed changes
Municipalities could make decisions on architecture and urban design
Enhanced development permit system to provide municipalities flexibility over uses, density, setbacks, and design matters
Municipal ability to place conditions on zoning approvals that would achieve energy efficiency, promote brownfields redevelopment
Enhanced ability to use Community Improvement Plans to provide incentives for construction on brownfields and energy efficient development
Municipalities could offer credits for developers providing green roofs, courtyards, and open space through “cash in lieu” provisions
Allows municipalities who choose to, to permit second units (e.g., basement apartments) as of right
Ability to declare a matter of provincial interest on Minister’s Zoning Orders Reforming the OMB
OMB to continue to hear appeals on official plans, zoning, site plan, subdivision, and development permit matters
Proposed changes
Municipal ability to establish local appeal bodies to hear minor variances and consents
OMB to “have regard to” municipal decisions and the municipal process, with materials limited to those that were before council and the public
To retain right of appeal to OMB, must have participated early in public consultation process
Proposed administrative reforms
New citizen liaison function at OMB
Improvements to OMB pre-hearings, mediation, and timelines
Improvements to appointment process of OMB members
Increased tenure, remuneration, and training for OMB members Notes from Minister Gerretsen’s presentation
Bill 51
Guiding principles: goal of making the development application process understandable, open, and open to public comment at appropriate times in the process; includes architectural/design control as long as the municipality’s official plan requires this – all to ensure development “fits in with the community” (Mr. Gerretsen notes that good developers do not have a problem with this); insist on intensification, especially along transportation routes.
Triggers for change: learnings from past experience, Toronto growth forecasts.
Status of bill: First reading December 2005; Goal is second and third reading this spring, so it can take effect summer 2006; bill could go to committee; media supportive to date.
Ministry structure: Focus is on planning, municipal operations/funding, and housing including affordable housing and the building code; ministry meets monthly with Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
Greenbelt legislation features: based on strong science; prevents shrinking of greenbelt (any boundary changes effected only through “cut and fill”); to be reviewed in 10 years; allows 400,000 acres to be developed/redeveloped.
Provincial Policy Statement: governs how municipalities undertake their official plans and how the provincial interest is maintained; is likely to have a heavy impact on planning; helps cities resist having developers dictate the city’s urban growth boundaries through OMB appeals; gives cities adequate time to review a development proposal so that developers can’t short-circuit process and appeal to OMB before municipality has made a decision.
Relationship with Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal: MPIR gives leadership to public infrastructure investments across ministry boundaries; charged with the “Places to Grow” growth plan.
Brownfield development: Key issues – must limit liability, must have financial incentives.
Bill 51 features: as bill reads today, will retroactively apply to all development applications that are “in the mill” unlike what happened with the Oak Ridges Moraine (note developers do not like this); permits a municipality to trade off park dollars for energy efficiencies; will permit basement apartments as a right of municipality chooses to; goal of a “one window” approach for planning, but with retention of existing committee structures; premised on official plans being in place and reviewed every five years, and zoning bylaws being in place within three years after OP changes; will allow zoning approvals that have conditions, and permit registration of these conditions on the deed; enhances the powers of Community Improvement Plans.
OMB reforms: recognize that OMB is an appeal body, not a primary decision-maker; ensure OMB must have regard for the municipality’s processes/plans; lets the city establish a local body for Committee of Adjustment appeals if the municipality chooses to; introduces mediation to land use disputes; will add OMB staff whose focus is on providing guidance to citizens on OMB appeals.
Possible changes to Municipal Act: intent is for new Municipal Act to give municipal powers to other cities similar to what was given to Toronto in the City of Toronto Act.
Question period
Will provincial infrastructure funding be “guided” by whether a municipality’s official plan is up to date and how well the OP reflects the Provincial Policy Statement?
Yes
Will watershed studies and other cross-jurisdictional initiatives have “provincial interest” under the new planning environment, or will the municipalities be able to assume control?
If, for example, the initiative is a watershed study sponsored by the Ministry of Natural Resources, then the provincial interest would be maintained.
Is there something similar to the National Capital Commission for the greenbelt area?
Yes. An advisory board plus a foundation with $25 million in funding toward such things as pathways, etc.
The Heritage Act is strengthened.
Municipal councils may establish design committees and include in these committees local architects, developers, and other representatives.
Significant discussion on brownfield cleanup at Block D, and how Ministry of Environment processes appear to permit segmenting the site into parcels and only cleaning up parcels subject to construction, leaving open space not cleaned up
Notes from the January 28, 2006 Kingston Electors meeting with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Minister John Gerretsen spoke with Kingston Electors January 28, 2006. He circulated a brief handout, spoke for 20 minutes, then entertained questions for nearly an hour longer. This is an entirely unofficial summary of the afternoon discussion.
Transcription of Minister Gerretsen’s handout
Proposed changes to Ontario’s land-use planning system
Context for change
Ontario’s population to increase by four million by 2031
Current growth patterns strain our infrastructure and quality of life
Through our planning reform agenda, McGuinty government is promoting compact communities with good access to services and mix of housing and jobsAchievements to date
Proposed legislation is part of series of related initiatives
New Provincial Policy Statement (March 2005)
Strong Communities [planning amendment] Act, 2004
Greenbelt Plan
Places to Grow Act, 2005 Improving the planning process
Proposed reforms would move information sharing and public engagement to front end of process
Proposed reforms would make planning system more accountable, effective, and transparent
Ontario Municipal Board to have regard for municipal council decisions
Up-to-date official plans and zoning by-laws
New requirements for complete applications
Enhanced early consultation with municipalities and public
Limited appeal rights on proposals to convert employment lands
Planning approvals based on current provincial policies Sustainable well-designed communities
Proposed changes
Municipalities could make decisions on architecture and urban design
Enhanced development permit system to provide municipalities flexibility over uses, density, setbacks, and design matters
Municipal ability to place conditions on zoning approvals that would achieve energy efficiency, promote brownfields redevelopment
Enhanced ability to use Community Improvement Plans to provide incentives for construction on brownfields and energy efficient development
Municipalities could offer credits for developers providing green roofs, courtyards, and open space through “cash in lieu” provisions
Allows municipalities who choose to, to permit second units (e.g., basement apartments) as of right
Ability to declare a matter of provincial interest on Minister’s Zoning Orders Reforming the OMB
OMB to continue to hear appeals on official plans, zoning, site plan, subdivision, and development permit matters
Proposed changes
Municipal ability to establish local appeal bodies to hear minor variances and consents
OMB to “have regard to” municipal decisions and the municipal process, with materials limited to those that were before council and the public
To retain right of appeal to OMB, must have participated early in public consultation process
Proposed administrative reforms
New citizen liaison function at OMB
Improvements to OMB pre-hearings, mediation, and timelines
Improvements to appointment process of OMB members
Increased tenure, remuneration, and training for OMB members Notes from Minister Gerretsen’s presentation
Bill 51
Guiding principles: goal of making the development application process understandable, open, and open to public comment at appropriate times in the process; includes architectural/design control as long as the municipality’s official plan requires this – all to ensure development “fits in with the community” (Mr. Gerretsen notes that good developers do not have a problem with this); insist on intensification, especially along transportation routes.
Triggers for change: learnings from past experience, Toronto growth forecasts.
Status of bill: First reading December 2005; Goal is second and third reading this spring, so it can take effect summer 2006; bill could go to committee; media supportive to date.
Ministry structure: Focus is on planning, municipal operations/funding, and housing including affordable housing and the building code; ministry meets monthly with Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
Greenbelt legislation features: based on strong science; prevents shrinking of greenbelt (any boundary changes effected only through “cut and fill”); to be reviewed in 10 years; allows 400,000 acres to be developed/redeveloped.
Provincial Policy Statement: governs how municipalities undertake their official plans and how the provincial interest is maintained; is likely to have a heavy impact on planning; helps cities resist having developers dictate the city’s urban growth boundaries through OMB appeals; gives cities adequate time to review a development proposal so that developers can’t short-circuit process and appeal to OMB before municipality has made a decision.
Relationship with Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal: MPIR gives leadership to public infrastructure investments across ministry boundaries; charged with the “Places to Grow” growth plan.
Brownfield development: Key issues – must limit liability, must have financial incentives.
Bill 51 features: as bill reads today, will retroactively apply to all development applications that are “in the mill” unlike what happened with the Oak Ridges Moraine (note developers do not like this); permits a municipality to trade off park dollars for energy efficiencies; will permit basement apartments as a right of municipality chooses to; goal of a “one window” approach for planning, but with retention of existing committee structures; premised on official plans being in place and reviewed every five years, and zoning bylaws being in place within three years after OP changes; will allow zoning approvals that have conditions, and permit registration of these conditions on the deed; enhances the powers of Community Improvement Plans.
OMB reforms: recognize that OMB is an appeal body, not a primary decision-maker; ensure OMB must have regard for the municipality’s processes/plans; lets the city establish a local body for Committee of Adjustment appeals if the municipality chooses to; introduces mediation to land use disputes; will add OMB staff whose focus is on providing guidance to citizens on OMB appeals.
Possible changes to Municipal Act: intent is for new Municipal Act to give municipal powers to other cities similar to what was given to Toronto in the City of Toronto Act.
Question period
Will provincial infrastructure funding be “guided” by whether a municipality’s official plan is up to date and how well the OP reflects the Provincial Policy Statement?
Yes
Will watershed studies and other cross-jurisdictional initiatives have “provincial interest” under the new planning environment, or will the municipalities be able to assume control?
If, for example, the initiative is a watershed study sponsored by the Ministry of Natural Resources, then the provincial interest would be maintained.
Is there something similar to the National Capital Commission for the greenbelt area?
Yes. An advisory board plus a foundation with $25 million in funding toward such things as pathways, etc.
The Heritage Act is strengthened.
Municipal councils may establish design committees and include in these committees local architects, developers, and other representatives.
Significant discussion on brownfield cleanup at Block D, and how Ministry of Environment processes appear to permit segmenting the site into parcels and only cleaning up parcels subject to construction, leaving open space not cleaned up