Third Party Appeals…

Third Party Appeals Prohibited

Bill 185 proposes to amend regulations under the Planning Act to prohibit third party appeals (i.e., by members of the public) for Official Plans, Official Plan Amendments, Zoning By-Laws and Zoning By-Law Amendments. The province previously removed third party appeals for subdivisions and minor variances. Appeals would only permitted by the applicant, Minister, public bodies and specified persons (generally utility companies that made submissions).

The province’s own Housing Task Force only recommended no appeal rights for affordable housing projects – not no appeals by the public across the board.

The Township does not support this proposal to remove the ability of residents to hold Councils accountable for poor planning decisions. The pressure on councils to approve development proposals will be tremendous.

Public Notice Requirements

Bill 185 proposes to allow notice of new planning applications, development charges, and community benefit charges on a municipal website, if no local newspaper is available.

The Township supports this recognition that many rural areas have lost their newspapers.

Time Period for Evidence at the Ontario Land Tribunal

The Township supports this minor proposal to re-establish the prescribed time period for a municipality to review new evidence introduced in a hearing at the Ontario Land Tribunal.