HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-122-87„r.xm„~K. ~,
T06dh OF NEI~CASTLE
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REPORT File # °FF
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Res. # ,,~~~ ~, . ,.,~~d ~--~
By-Law # ~
r`~-ri~'~ General Purpose and Administration Committee
~~~ Tuesday, April 21, 1987
REPOT #: ~_~?~-87 FILE #: _.
S1JB.ECT: DELEGATION OF LOCAL OFFICIAL PLAN APPROVAL POWERS
TO THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF DURHAM
RECOP~h1ENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT keport PD-122-87 be received; and
2. THAT the Minister of (Municipal Affairs and the Regional Municipality of Durham be
advised that the Town of fJewcastle has no objection to delegation of local Official
Plan approval authority to the Regional Municipality of Durham with subdelegation of
approval authority to a committee of Council or an official officer of the Region of
Durham.
BACKGRUUNU ANU COMMENTS:
At the Council Meeting of March 9 1987 Council considered correspondence from the
Regional Municipality of Durham in :respect of a proposed request to the Province of
Ontario for delegation of local Official Plan approval powers to the Region of Durham.
pursuant to .Section 4 of the P anni ng Act , 1983. St of f have reviewed the Regional St of f
Report dealing with the question of delegation and generally support the principle of
delegation. We note that such delegation would, in some respects, streamline the approval
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REPORT NO.: PD-122-87 Page 2
process for Official Plan amendments, thus facilitating implementation of
development proposals which are awaiting approval of an Official Plan
amendment. We note, however, that the re .are significant implications to
the municipality arising from this delegation, not the least of which
wi 11 be the demands. upon municipal s,taf f i n assuming. addi ti onal
responsibilities related to. preparation of local Official Plans.
At the present time the :Region of Durham is the municipal authority
responsible for preparation of Official Plans with the district
municipalities acting as commenting agencies on such documents. For the
most part, however, local municipalities prepare their own Official Plans
and submit 'them to the Region for adoption following which the plans must
then be approved by the Minister of Municipal Kffairs. Delegation of
approval authority for local plans would create a two-tier planning
system. within Durham Region returning to the local municpaltes a
certain degree of .autonomy related to Official Plan matters.
It is Staff's beliof hat 'significant. amendments will be required to the
Durham Regional Official Plan as well as local district plans currently
in place. In addition, Town Staff will assume additional
responsibilities for the circulation and processing of Official Plan
amendment applications as they relate to local Official Pans. Currently
this is a responsibility of Durham Region. There will also be an
increase in the number of public meetings to be held by Council thus
impacting agendas.
It is expected that the transition period would take between two and
three years affording Council an opportunity to review staffing
requirements related to assumption of additional responsibilities at the
local level and hire any Staff necessary to deal with further increase to
our workloads. Staff note that the approval of subdivision plans is
currently delegated to the Region and that there have been no problems
with the procedure to date.
We further note that the Region is currently conducting a review of
specific sections of the Durham Regional Official Plan which could
ultimately result in amendments to the Plan consistent with the proposed
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REPURT NO.: PD-122-87
Page 3
delegation. Staff see the Region a1 Plan becoming less detailed as it
relates to local planning issues and assuming a greater role as a general.
policy document allowing local municipalities greater freedom to deal.
with local issues.
Accordingly,_if Council is satisfied that the municipality can respond to
the increased workload, Staff 'recommend that no objection be offered to
proposed delegation of local Official Plan approval powers to the Region..
of Uurham and, that the Ministry and the Region of Durham be so advised.
Respectfully submitted, Recommended for presentation
l to the Committee
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liw r s, C. I :P. *~-- wrence . ; otse
Director of Planning Chief Ad i,strative Officer
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*Attach. '~`
April 10, 1987