Deputation to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing from Jim Tovey, Ward 1 Councillor, City of Mississauga and Region of Peel
This post is concerned with the current project, initiated by the Ontario government, to reform the Ontario Municipal Board.
The deputation to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing from City of Mississauga Ward 1 Councillor Jim Tovey (please see text below), has the following back story, which Councillor Tovey has shared with me:
“The deputation was November 17, 2016. The Province held three Public meetings on OMB reform, one of which was in Ward 1, in Port Credit. Our community has been lobbying the Province for OMB reform since 2006. The OMB is very important for smaller Municipalities who do not have professional planners or an Official Plan. Cities like Toronto and Mississauga, who listen to the values of their communities and plan appropriately for growth, should be free from the threat of one Board Member overturning the community’s vision.
“The Motion we crafted, with help from our Legal Department, is simple and effective. It would also allow municipalities to control Consent Applications, lot splits, by taking them out of the hands of the Committee of Adjustment and the OMB. Lot splits would be considered a Zoning change that would then be decided by Council.”
A previous post is entitled:
Two earlier posts featuring Jim Tovey are entitled:
Message from Mississauga Ward 1 Councillor Jim Tovey regarding new Port Credit pay parking structure
February 2017 Toronto Star series about Ontario Municipal Board
With regard to the recent Toronto Star series about the OMB, Jim Tovey has shared the following text at the Long Branch Development Facebook Page, and has given me permission to post it at the Preserved Stories website:
Deputation from Jim Tovey, Ward 1 Councillor, City of Mississauga and Region of Peel
Jim Tovey Councillor Ward 1
City of Mississauga and Region of Peel
jim.tovey@mississauga.ca
905-896-5100 C 416-989-2255
Deputation to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
The following Motion was adopted unanimously by the City of Mississauga and the Region of Peel. It was forwarded to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and forms part of the Position papers from the City, the Region and AMO.
“If a Municipality has an Official Plan,
“If that Official Plan has been approved by the Province of Ontario,
“Therefore, if an application is submitted to the Municipality to place density in any location, other than that identified within the Official Plan, there shall be no right of appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board. The decision of Council is final.”
Why this is fair
*
Developers retain rights
When the Official Plan is opened up for mandatory review, developers and Municipalities may enter into conversations as part of the OP review.The developer maintains their rights of appeal to the OMB during this process.
Once the OP has been approved by the Province any development proposal reviewed by a Municipal Council will not be subjected to OMB appeals.
Municipalities can control growth appropriately
Once the OP has been approved by the Province of Ontario, the decision of Council is final.
Council will still have the ability to approve applications for increased density and land use changes that, despite the Official Plan, constitute good Planning or further a Municipality’s strategic goals.
It allows Municipalities to financially plan for water and wastewater infrastructure and plant expansions. Although Municipalities can use Development Charges, DC’s do not provide adequate financing for upgrades to water and wastewater capacity or plant expansions.
Residents are reassured their voices have been heard
Residents investing in the OP review can be assured their Municipality will develop according to the vision of the community as expressed in the OP.
Communities will no longer worry about having to attend endless OMB hearings once the OP is approved by the Province
It protects communities by allowing the OMB to continue their work for Municipalities that do not have Official Plans, or approved Official Plans.
[End]
Additional posts
Click here for previous posts about the OMB >
Click here for previous posts about Mississauga Ward 1 Councillor Jim Tovey >
A related post is entitled:
What do you think is meaningful community consultation?
Click on photos to enlarge them; click again to enlarge then further
Update
A March 29, 2017 City of Mississauga news release is entitled: “City of Mississauga Wins Municipality of the Year Award.”
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!