North Frontenac To Streamline Planning Approval

Craig Bakay | Sep 13, 2023

North Frontenac Township will consider streamlining the planning approval process following a report tendered at the Sept. 7 regular Council meeting in Plevna.

“Planning staff are proposing to streamline the development review process by asking Council to consider delegating the approval authority of undisputed consent applications to municipal staff,” planner Dmitry Kurylovich told Council. “Undisputed consent applications are land division applications that propose limited lot creation, lot enlargements, lot line adjustments and creation of easements that meet all applicable planning policies and regulations and that have not received any objections from technical agencies or the public.”

Currently, Council delegates the approval of all consent applications to the Committee of Adjustment. Each month, the Committee holds a public meeting that considers each application, regardless of complexity.

“Planning staff have observed that a majority (more than 90 per cent) of all consent applications receive no objections or concerns from neighbours,” Kurylovich said. “Because of this, planning staff are of the opinion that the delegating approval authority of routine and undisputed consent applications will speed up the approval process.”

In 2021, there were 33 applications. In 2022, there were 23 applications.

He said that not only will having staff approve the applications speed up the process, it will save time (an anticipated 14-45 days in time savings) as it will reduce the amount of staff time spent preparing reports, presentation slides, reference materials and delivering presentations (a potential for 50 per cent less time spent per routine file).

It will also allow the Committee of Adjustment to focus its time on more contentious applications or those with outstanding policy issues.

“Overall, delegating approval authority is a low-risk method of streamlining development approvals,” he said, adding that the Townships of South Frontenac, Stone Mills, Leeds and the Thousand Islands, the Cities of Kingston and Ottawa and the County of Lanark have already adopted such a policy.

He said delegation of approval authority will not change the way that neighbors are notified nor reduce their ability to submit comments on each application. If an application conflicts with policies and planning staff are not able to recommend approval of the application, the application will be brought forward to the Committee of Adjustment for a final decision.

“So, essentially, this would be a rubber stamp,” said Dep. Major John Inglis. “Why would staff turn an application down then?”

“Staff would not be able to turn it down,” Kurylovich said. “Only the Committee of Adjustment can turn one down.”

“So, the expectation would be that staff would approve it assuming there were no red flags?” said Inglis.

Staff will now prepare an approvals bylaw including a list of conditions that are typically associated with the approval of an application for Council consideration to ensure that the conditions assigned to each approval are fair and standardized.

Strat plan under way

At a Special Council meeting Sept. 6, Council approved consultation with several focus groups regarding 2023 Council Strategic Planning.

The groups to be consulted include North Frontenac lake associations, community hall groups, businesses, parent council groups from Clarendon Central Public School, North Addington Education Centre and Granite Ridge Education Centre and the seniors demographic.

Canadian Handywoman presentation

Tammy Watson, Canadian Handywoman, updated Council on concerns from female business owners, some programs in place and the challenges they face. The No. 1 challenge seems to be communication, specifically internet and cell phone coverage.

“That’s an issue traditionally lobbied for with the County,” said Dep. Mayor John Inglis.

“There are currently plans for three more towers but they’re having trouble finding landowners willing to let them use their lands,” said Mayor Gerry Lichty.

“I own 180 acres they could use but I’ve never been contacted,” said Coun. Wayne Good.

Dedication to Gerry Martin

“I think it was quite appropriate what was written,” Coun. Vernon Hermer said about the dedication to Gerry Martin in the walkway at the cenotaph in Plevna.

The dedication reads: “In Loving Memory of Gerald “Gerry” Martin former Councillor and Deputy Mayor NF War Memorial Task Force 1945-2022.”

Lecswick, Leszcuck, Les call the whole thing off

Council passed a bylaw changing the spelling of Lecswick Lane to the correct Leszczuk Lane.

Petition re Palmerston Highlands subdivision

Council received a written petition to assume maintenance of the roads and bridge in the Palmerston Highlands Subdivision as required as part of the process.