Care and Caution in Municipal Affairs
Major changes take place when smaller, well established cities are incorporated into metropolitan areas. Urban studies in the future will include stories of citizens who saw the redevelopment of areas of their former cities according to what the new political decision makers would think. A case in point relates to the former City of Nepean, Ontario.
Prior to amalgamation with the City of Ottawa a parcel of land in Nepean had been before the city for rezoning: it was rejected. After the amalgamation, the same zoning change was again advanced. In spite of some opposition by a few residents, the land was rezoned. The rezoning was then appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board by several residents only to have their appeal rejected but that the zoning by-law would not come into play until a site plan was approved without any disputes taking place. Those disputes would then have to be adjudicated by the Municipal Board before the zoning by-law could be approved.
At the present time, the site plan approval process is underway but the timing and the nature of the process has not been presented to the interested parties who seek to have such information. The problem here is that the Ontario Municipal Board will adjudicate any disputes, which will delay any construction from taking place; that adjudication process will no doubt be required as the city hasn’t been as open as it could be. A proper site plan has not been filed along with the rezoning application; it was merely a concept plan.
One has to wonder why the city would go out of its way to grant some type of go-ahead for a possible development without a full and proper site plan being accepted. It is like putting the cart before the horse with unfortunate consequences following. Laws are put into place to protect the interests of individuals and all parties. The City of Ottawa, it is hoped, will learn from this incident not to be in a rush to assist any party to move ahead with a project without following appropriate procedures.
It behooves the city to be careful and cautious in its deliberations and activities relating to the site plan approval, its processes and timing and site plan particulars. The City of Ottawa needs to disclose to the public how it intends to proceed, whether this is to be done in openness before the public or otherwise.
Prior to amalgamation with the City of Ottawa a parcel of land in Nepean had been before the city for rezoning: it was rejected. After the amalgamation, the same zoning change was again advanced. In spite of some opposition by a few residents, the land was rezoned. The rezoning was then appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board by several residents only to have their appeal rejected but that the zoning by-law would not come into play until a site plan was approved without any disputes taking place. Those disputes would then have to be adjudicated by the Municipal Board before the zoning by-law could be approved.
At the present time, the site plan approval process is underway but the timing and the nature of the process has not been presented to the interested parties who seek to have such information. The problem here is that the Ontario Municipal Board will adjudicate any disputes, which will delay any construction from taking place; that adjudication process will no doubt be required as the city hasn’t been as open as it could be. A proper site plan has not been filed along with the rezoning application; it was merely a concept plan.
One has to wonder why the city would go out of its way to grant some type of go-ahead for a possible development without a full and proper site plan being accepted. It is like putting the cart before the horse with unfortunate consequences following. Laws are put into place to protect the interests of individuals and all parties. The City of Ottawa, it is hoped, will learn from this incident not to be in a rush to assist any party to move ahead with a project without following appropriate procedures.
It behooves the city to be careful and cautious in its deliberations and activities relating to the site plan approval, its processes and timing and site plan particulars. The City of Ottawa needs to disclose to the public how it intends to proceed, whether this is to be done in openness before the public or otherwise.
posted by croweagle at
11:09 PM
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