Q & A: City answers top questions about the planning process
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Vaughan’s community is evolving. As one of the fastest growing cities in Canada, the City of Vaughan continues to manage this growth and guide change. But before the shovels hit the ground, did you know you could have a say? Have you ever wondered how development proposals are approved? Or do you want to know more about submitting applications? The City’s Planning and Growth and Management portfolio answers the top five questions about the planning process.
Vaughan’s community is evolving. As one of the fastest growing cities in Canada, the City of Vaughan continues to manage this growth and guide change. But before the shovels hit the ground, did you know you could have a say? Have you ever wondered how development proposals are approved? Or do you want to know more about submitting applications? The City’s Planning and Growth and Management portfolio answers the top five questions about the planning process.
1. WHAT IS A DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION?
Development refers to any activity resulting in a change of land use, construction of a new building or the creation of a parcel of land. Development applications are proposals put forward by a landowner – these are carefully considered and reviewed to ensure consistency with municipal, regional and provincial plans and policies. The City reviews the following six types of development applications, governed by the Planning Act: Draft Plan of Condominiums, Draft Plan of Subdivisions, Official Plan Amendments, Part-Lot Control Exceptions, Site Development Applications and Zoning By-law Amendments. Learn more about development applications in Vaughan.
2. HOW ARE DEVELOPMENT DECISIONS MADE?
Before construction can begin, development proposals must go through the following four-step review and decision-making process:
- Step 1: Pre-applications are submitted to the City. Once the application has been submitted, a sign is posted on the site to let the community know what is being proposed. A written notice is also sent to all residents living within 150 metres (sometimes more) of the site in question, informing them of an upcoming public meeting.
- Step 2: Public meetings are held to share the proposed application. At this meeting, the landowner will present the draft plan and members of the community will have an opportunity to provide input. Please note, no decisions are made at this time. Visit vaughan.ca/HaveYourSay to learn more about opportunities to speak to Council and provide input during a public meeting.
- Step 3: City staff review the application. Following the public meeting, City staff review the application and prepare a formal report for Council’s review at a future Committee of the Whole meeting. During this meeting, an official recommendation on the application will be made.
- Step 4: Council makes a decision. At the following Council meeting, Members of Council will hold a formal vote to approve, amend or refuse the application.
3. HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?
As part of the City’s commitment to open and accessible government, Council encourages citizens to participate in the decision-making process. Here are four ways to get involved:
- Learn more about the application. Review the public notice and learn more about the development application on PLANit, the City’s development application tracking platform available at vaughan.ca/maps.
- Speak to Council during a Committee of the Whole Meeting. While Vaughan City Hall remains closed to the public, citizens can participate in meetings by:
- speaking live via teleconference to Members of Council during a meeting. To pre-register to speak at an electronic-participation meeting, send a completed Request to Speak form (PDF) to clerks@vaughan.ca or call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281. Registered members will be able to connect through their computer, smartphone or tablet.
- speaking live from a telephone (regular landline or cellphone) during the meeting. To pre-register to speak via telephone, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at clerks@vaughan.ca or call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281.
- submitting a written communication for review by Members of Council as part of an agenda item. All written communications can be emailed to the Office of the City Clerk at clerks@vaughan.ca.
- Speak directly with your local Councillor. Citizens may telephone or email comments directly to a Member of Council. For details on how to contact a Member of Council, visit vaughan.ca/council.
- Contact the City planner directly. Citizens may contact the planner on file directly by phone, email or letter. Contact details are found on the public meeting notice sent by mail, or can be provided by Access Vaughan by calling 905-832-2281 or emailing accessvaughan@vaughan.ca.
4. HOW ARE APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED?
Teams across the City have innovated their processes to ensure planning approvals and shovel-ready projects can move forward during the global COVID-19 pandemic. This includes the launch of a new digital permitting portal enabling citizens and building industry professionals to apply, track and pay for permits online. Explore the portal at vaughan.ca/PermitPortal. Learn more about the application in-take process.
Additional online permitting options launched by the Development Engineering department for pools, grading for sheds, home additions and more can now be submitted and approved online at vaughan.ca/DEPermits.
Planning application submissions are to be emailed directly to the City’s technicians. For areas west of Highway 400, email michelle.perrone@vaughan.ca and for areas east of Highway 400, email joshua.cipolletta@vaughan.ca.
5. WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ONLINE?
Visit vaughan.ca/PlanningProcess for additional information on the planning process, land-use plans, development applications and more. A digital step-by-step guide (PDF) has also been created illustrating this process.