Dear ERO We are not in…

Dear ERO
We are not in favour of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) taking over the municipal site plan control approval process.

We don't believe that MMAH has the capabilities to determine what is in the best interest of the residents of any community in the Province. Nor do we believe the Minister and Ministry have the appropriate level of detail required to make an adequate and equitable decision for these communities and the resources required to complete the numerous developments in a timely manner. We are concerned that if it takes over site plans that it will overlook what could be crucial factors that affect the long-term growth and prosperity of these communities.

Having no further control on site plans by municipalities also means having less input by Ontarians on how a development fits within the existing community or how it contributes to its growth and the health of its local businesses as well as its residents.

If the MMAH desire is to take over a municipal planning process, then the Ministry should consolidate the entire process of issuing the permits, notify community members, hire engineers and planners to assess the current infrastructure and to ensure that any additional community needs are in place prior to the approval of any such developments.

The capability to do the required work should be embedded in MMAH or other Provincial ministries working on behalf of the public. It should not be through the developer’s alternative of hiring consultants who can be beholden to the developers’ interests and payments to them and create a perceived conflict of interest between the goals of the developer and the needs of the community.

If the Minister wants control of both the Official Plans and Zoning bylaws where would the necessary checks and balances between the various community, provincial and developer interests occur? Or is the Minister’s interest in making all decisions by expediency at the expense of the public good?

We believe having only MMAH determine the appropriateness of any developments would benefit developers at the expense of the communities in which these MZO’s are executed. The community will then have to live with the impact and consequences of these random and potentially ill-conceived projects that favour the developer. Removing the checks and balance in the current process would not serve the public good.

If it is the Minister’s intent to take over the site planning process then it should post the intention for each project on the Environmental Registry of Ontario or distribute notifications to nearby residents, as now required of municipalities and get residents (voters) input before any MZO is issued or development approved.

Lastly, if the Minister wants to change provincial policy, then the Minister should post it as a standalone initiative, instead of embedding it in a financial Bill, or put it on the election platform for 2022 and let the taxpayers decide whether they want to replace municipal planning with MZOs and Provincial control of the site planning and development control process.