I am concerned with the use…

I am concerned with the use of Minister's Zoning Orders over the last year. While I understand it is intended to improve the economy and in some situations fast track development of needed forms of housing, the use of the MZO seems to not only usurp the public process; but, also the technical review that is normally undertaken at the local level. Zoning By-laws are drafted and amended in consideration of many technical matters that are concerned with the suitability of development. Most development applications are supported by many technical reports that demonstrate how the proposed development is compliant with municipal, provincial and federal policies and standards. Without the thorough review of those reports, important provisions within the instruments that authorize the proposed development may not be included, resulting in an approval that has not properly considered environmental, social, economic, fiscal, etc., issues that would have otherwise been addressed through the local planning approval process.

The Site Plan Control process is an extremely technical process that requires the input and review of local staff who are familiar with the local context. Uploading that technical review to Provincial staff and the Minister who do not have that local expertise and/or access to the resources that local staff would otherwise have, could result in situations where approvals are made that are not implementable at the local level and/or that have not properly addressed local technical concerns.

In terms of the use of Inclusionary Zoning, while in theory this would be good, it is important to note that before a municipality is able to use this tool, it must undertake a feasibility assessment to ensure that the use of the tool addresses local need and that future projects are viable. Would the Minister be undertaking such an assessment? If not, again there is a risk that the resulting provisions of the inclusionary zoning do not meet the needs of the community and/or render the project unviable.

Given the pace with which the current round of MZOs have been issued by the Province it is clear that a full analysis of planning applications have not been undertaken. Site plan applications, especially in the case of high-density development, are very technical and should not be undertaken without having first completed the full analysis that is generally required as part of such an application and then following through with a full review of the material provided. Uploading this responsibility to Provincial Staff is likely not going to result in faster approvals, which is (as I understand it) the intent of this power. This level of detail is best left to be addressed by the local municipality and the development proponent.