Plan Amendment

Specific timelines cannot be provided for development applications, as the time required to process them varies depending on:

• Complexity of the application
• Volume of current applications
• Responsiveness of referral agencies
• Responsiveness of the applicant

Applicants may save time by:

• Consulting with staff early
• Hiring experienced consultants and qualified professionals
• Coordinating through a single point-person - To help things run smoothly and avoid delays or confusion, we recommend that applicants appoint one person from their consulting team to be the main point of contact. This person can coordinate the application process on your behalf, making communication easier for everyone.

Your plan amendment application will first go through the standard application process.

Staff then prepare a comprehensive report for Council considering:

• Application background and alignment with Township bylaws and policies.
• Impact of the proposed amendment on the community, land use implications, suitability of the site for the intended use, and availability of required municipal services.
• Site plans, elevations, landscape concepts, and tree schedules may also form part of the Report to Council.

First & second reading

Council considers the plan amendment application and accompanying staff report at a regularly scheduled Council meeting. Council may decide to:

• consider the plan amendment application by giving the accompanying bylaw two (2) readings.
• request additional information or studies before the plan amendment application can be given further consideration; or
• deny the application.
• The applicant is then informed of the Council decision.

Public notification of Council consideration

Property owners and occupants within 100m of the development site are notified the application will be considered at an upcoming Council Meeting, in accordance with the Township’s Development Application Procedure Bylaw.

Public hearing

Council holds a public hearing on the proposed plan amendment, in accordance with provincial requirements and the Township’s Development Application Procedure Bylaw.

• Public can speak or submit written comments. Written submissions will be accepted up to and during the public hearing and will form part of the public record.
• Applicants are also given the opportunity to present a summary of their proposal at the hearing.
• After the hearing, Council is not permitted to receive any further public input unless another public hearing is held.

For more information, including upcoming scheduled public hearings and how to provide input, please visit tol.ca/hearing.

Third reading

Third reading may be considered at the public hearing or at the next regular Council meeting.

Based on input from the public hearing, Council may decide to:

• Grant third reading (with or without prerequisites)
• Request amendments based on public hearing feedback
• Defer decision to future meeting for further review
• Defeat the bylaw, thus denying the application.

All outstanding development prerequisites must be completed prior to final adoption. Such items may include:

• securing of neighbourhood parks, school sites, community detention ponds, and other associated community amenities.
• completion of a servicing agreement or undertaking additional engineering/servicing studies.
• provision of a letter of credit securing all municipal works and services including parks landscaping and greenway improvements.
• provision of road dedication (and widening) including greenways, rights of way, easements, and covenants.
• processing of a development permit or development variance permit.
• obtaining approval from affected outside agencies.
• payment of applicable fees.
• compliance with SPEA and Erosion and Sediment Control Bylaws.
• other development prerequisites applicable to individual plan amendment applications.

Need to submit/resubmit documents for your active development project? Please use the Document Resubmission Portal.