On March 30, 2022, the Ontario government introduced Bill 109, the More Homes For Everyone Act which is intended to expedite the planning process including mandating the delegation of site plan approval to staff. Mulmur Council passed the following resolution expressing concern that Bill 109 is removing local input and the decision making of elected officials.
WHEREAS Council supports removing red tape and expediting the creation of affordable housing through the proper review and approval
AND WHEREAS Council values citizen input, professional planning recommendations and elected Official decision making;
NOW THEREFORE, Council provides the following comments on Bill 109:
- Final Decision making should rest with elected officials
- Planners recommendations should be subject to public input and local expertise
- Ratepayers should not be subsidizing development applications through refunds to application fees intended to cover the cost of processing applications
- That a definition of minor rezoning has not been established
- Planners should not be put in a position of having to be experts and decision makers over all other disciplines
- Delegating authority for site plans and creating penalties for site plan and minor rezonings will not solve housing crisis, as the proposed legislation targets single lot developments opposed to large scale residential development.
AND FURTHERMORE THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Province of Ontario, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Environmental Registry, the County of Dufferin and all Ontario municipalities.
