Planning Applications

Pre-consultation meetings are held twice a month from 9:30 a.m. to noon, with approximately 30 minutes allocated to each proposal, and applications must be submitted at least two weeks before the meeting date.

A pre-consultation meeting is an informal meeting where the applicant introduces the proposal, Town staff from each department provide feedback, the applicant can ask questions throughout the meeting and at the end, and a complete application checklist is provided approximately two weeks after the meeting.

Associated fees can be found on the Fees and Charges page. In some instances, a pre-consultation fee through the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation authority (LSRCA) is also required. Both fees (if applicable) must be paid before the meeting. Please check with the LSRCA.

To book a pre-consultation meeting, please prepare the following:

1. Completed Pre-Consultation Meeting Request Form
2. Owner Authorization Form, if applying on behalf of the property owner
3. Concept Site Plan showing:
   • All dimensions and setbacks in metric
   • Building and site sizes
   • Parking areas
   • Landscaped and hard-surface areas
   • Existing vegetation and structures
4. Concept Elevations, if available
5. Any other information that will help staff understand the proposal

Submit all information to Planning.

1. Standard Condominium: A standard condominium consists of individual units and common elements, which are shared by all owners.
2. Phased Condominium: A phased condominium is developed in stages. Additional units and common elements can be added over a period of up to 10 years.
3. Common Element Condominium: A common element condominium consists only of shared elements, such as roads or parking areas, and does not include individual units. The properties that use these shared elements are called Parcels of Tied Land (POTLs) and are not part of the condominium property.
4. Vacant Land Condominium: A vacant land condominium is similar to a plan of subdivision, but no buildings are constructed on the lots when the plan is registered. The land is identified as individual units or common elements. After the plan is registered, the owner can decide what to build on the individual units.
5. Leasehold Condominium: A leasehold condominium may look similar to a standard condominium, but the units and common elements are leased to tenants for a fixed period. This allows developers to generate revenue while retaining ownership of the property.

Planning staff must review your application within 30 days of receiving it to determine whether it is complete. If staff do not make this determination within 30 days, you can apply to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) for a decision on whether the application is complete. The applicant has 30 days to make this request, and the OLT's decision is final.

The proposed Draft Plan of Condominium is circulated to internal departments and external agencies, such as York Region and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, for review.

If a public meeting is required (for vacant land only), a meeting will be scheduled to introduce the proposed application. Once Planning staff have enough information to make a recommendation, a report will be brought forward to Council for consideration.

If Council refuses the application or does not make a decision within 210 days (approximately seven months) after all requested information and materials have been submitted, you may bring the application to the OLT for a decision.

If the application is approved, there is a 20-day period during which a party may appeal Council's decision to the OLT.

View Condominium Application Form and Guide

An application to amend an OP may not be permitted if the municipality has adopted a new comprehensive OP within the past two years. However, an applicant may request that Council pass a resolution allowing the application to proceed. The same restriction may also apply to amendments to a Secondary Plan.

When applying for an Official Plan Amendment (OPA), the applicant must submit the information identified during pre-consultation. Providing as much information as possible can help reduce delays during the review process.

Planning staff must review the application within 30 days of receiving it to determine whether it is complete. If the Town does not make this determination within 30 days, the applicant can apply to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) for a decision on whether the application is complete. The applicant has 30 days to make this request, and the OLT's decision is final.

Once the application is deemed complete, it is circulated to internal departments and external agencies, such as York Region and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, for review.

A public planning meeting is scheduled to introduce the proposed application.

Once Planning staff have enough information to make a recommendation, a report will be brought forward to Council for consideration. If Council refuses the application or does not make a decision within 210 days (approximately seven months) after all requested information and materials have been submitted, the applicant may bring the proposed OPA to the OLT for a decision.

View Official Plan Amendment Application Form and Guide

Before applying for a PLC Exemption, applicants should consult with Planning.

The application must include:

• Applicable fees
• A cover letter describing the application
• The Registered Plan of Subdivision
• The Reference Plan
• A surveyor's frontage and lot area certificate

The proposed PLC Exemption is circulated to internal departments for review. Once Planning staff have enough information to make a recommendation, a report is brought forward to Council for consideration.

Council's decision is final, and there is no appeal process for PLC Exemptions.

To help speed up the Site Plan approval process, Council has authorized staff to approve smaller-scale applications that have little to no significant impact on the surrounding properties. Applicants only need to apply for one level. Staff will determine the appropriate level for the proposal during pre-consultation.

There are three levels of staff-approved Site Plan applications:

• Level 1 – Exemption application
  • This application is for proposals with minimal or no impact and does not require an agreement. It confirms that the development meets zoning and other municipal standards. The typical approval timeframe is two to three weeks.
• Level 2 – Basic application

  • This application is for proposals with limited impact that require additional technical information and a simplified agreement. Technical information may include plans, such as grading, landscape and site plans, or studies, such as a natural heritage evaluation or parking study. The agreement is registered on title to ensure the development is built according to the approved plans and studies. The typical approval timeframe is two to three months.

• Level 3 – Standard application

  • This application is for minor proposals that require more detailed plans, studies and agreements. The studies may include conditions to ensure the development meets applicable standards. An agreement registered on title is required. The typical approval timeframe is three to four months.

Site Plan Approval Application Form Site Plan Exemption Application Form

When applying for a Draft Plan of Subdivision, the proposed subdivision should be reviewed by the Development Review Committee. Providing as much information as possible can help reduce delays.

Planning staff must review the application within 30 days of receiving it to determine whether it is complete. If the Town does not make this determination within 30 days, the applicant can apply to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) for a decision. The applicant has 30 days to make this request, and the OLT's decision is final.

Once deemed complete, the application is circulated to internal departments and external agencies, such as York Region and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, for review.

A public planning meeting is scheduled to introduce the proposed application. Once Planning staff have enough information to make a recommendation, a report is brought forward to Council for consideration.

If Council refuses the application or does not make a decision within 210 days (approximately seven months) after all requested information and materials have been submitted, the applicant may bring the application to the OLT for a decision.

If the application is approved, there is a 20-day period during which a party may appeal Council's decision to the OLT.

An approved Plan of Subdivision can be amended after approval. Staff can approve minor technical or administrative changes. Council approval is required for significant amendments that could affect the overall Plan of Subdivision, such as changing the number of lots or failing to meet draft plan conditions within the approved timeframe.

Subdivision Approval Application Form

Step One

Before submitting a formal application, applicants should complete a pre-consultation with staff. Applicants should submit a cover letter, draft site plan and elevation plan describing the proposed tower, nearby tower facilities, existing and proposed coverage and capacity, and the potential for co-location.

Step Two

Staff will review the application to confirm that all required documents and fees have been submitted, which typically takes about one week.

Once complete, the application will be circulated to relevant Town departments and external agencies for review and comment.

Step Three

The applicant is responsible for organizing a public information session, including providing a venue and issuing notices. This must be completed within 120 days of the Town accepting the application as complete.

The Town will provide a list of property owners to notify. Notice must be provided to property owners within 120 metres or three times the tower height, measured from the furthest point of the tower facility, as well as Town Council, the Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada regional office and Town Planning staff.

The applicant must collect and respond to public concerns and allow those who raised concerns to respond. All correspondence must be recorded and provided to Town staff and Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada.

Step Four

Once the public consultation is complete, the proposal can be brought to Council for a decision. However, the federal government makes the final decision. Council provides a recommendation, called a “Letter of Concurrence,” which may include conditions the applicant must meet before the tower can be constructed.

Step Five

Once the Letter of Concurrence has been sent to Industry Canada, Industry Canada will work provide the final decision to you. It is the responsibility of the applicant to notify EG on the final decision from Industry Canada prior to any construction.

Telecommunication Tower Application Form

When applying for a Zoning By-law Amendment (ZBA), staff will review the application within 30 days to determine whether it is complete. If a decision is not made within this timeframe, the applicant may apply to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) for a determination. The applicant has 30 days to make this request, and the OLT's decision is final.

Once complete, the application is circulated to internal departments and external agencies, such as York Region and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, for review.

A public planning meeting is then held to introduce the proposed application. Once Planning staff have enough information to make a recommendation, a report is brought forward to Council for consideration. If Council refuses the application or does not make a decision within 210 days (approximately seven months) after all requested information and materials have been submitted, the applicant may bring the application to the OLT for a decision.

The below applications follow a process similar to a Zoning By-law Amendment:

• Temporary Use By-law
  • Temporary changes to the Zoning By-law for a set period of time. This period can be extended.
• Removal of “H” Provision
  • Removes a “Holding (H) Provision” placed on a property by Council. The “H” typically indicates that development cannot proceed until a condition, such as servicing, has been met.
• Interim Control By-law
  • Temporarily freezes zoning changes in a specific area while the Town completes a land use study. An Interim Control By-law is in effect for up to one year and can be extended by Council.

Please contact Planning to determine which application is most appropriate.