Planning Reform - Local Planning Appeal Support Centre
After many long years fighting against the Ontario Municipal Board, I am pleased to report that, as of April 3, 2018, all new planning appeals will be directed to the new Local Planning Appeals Tribunal.
My overriding concern with the prior OMB process was the lack of accessibility and transparency for residents. While developers can assemble large teams of qualified experts, the costs of participating in an OMB mediation or hearing were prohibitive for concerned neighbours and residents' associations.
The planning reform legislation passed by the Province in December 2017 implemented new Local Planning Appeal Support Centres (LPASC) to provide free advice and support to residents on local planning matters.
In April, the Toronto LPASC opened its doors to the public for the first time. The LPASC is an independent agency of the Province of Ontario, accountable to a board of directors. The stated purpose of the organization is to help "people understand and navigate the land use planning and appeal process in Ontario." Chapter 4 of the LPSCA Act (2017) outlines the following support services:
- Information on land use planning.
- Guidance on Tribunal procedures.
- Advice or representation.
- Any other services prescribed by the regulations.
I would encourage all residents concerned about a development application in their neighbourhood to contact the LPASC for more information about the appeal process. If applicable, the LPASC will also provide planning and legal support in certain cases.
Hours: Monday – Friday
8:30am – 5:00pm
Address: 700 Bay Street, 12th Floor
Telephone: 647-499-1646 or Toll-free: 1-800-993-8410
Email: info@lpasc.ca
Web: https://www.lpasc.ca
If you are interested, you can read more about improvements to the land use planning and appeals system, here.