The Town of The Blue Mountains will be delegating approval authority for uncontested severance applications to the staff level.
At its committee of the whole meeting on April 9, council voted 4-2 in favour of a new approvals process for consent to sever applications. Under the new system, applications deemed to be “uncontested” can be approved by the town’s director of planning and development services. “Contested” applications will be sent to the town’s committee of adjustment for a decision.
An application will be deemed “contested” if a concern from the public or a commenting agency can’t be satisfied by a condition of provisional consent.
The change is an attempt to speed up the severance planning process. Currently, all severance applications come to council for a decision, which can involve multiple meetings and reports. Under the new system, the applicant in an “uncontested” application will have the ability to appeal the staff decision to the committee of adjustment for a decision.
“It’s not a large difference from now. It’s a new role for the committee of adjustment,” said Adam Smith, director of planning and development services.
With the new system, the consent to sever process remains largely the same. Once an application is deemed complete, neighbours and local agencies will be able to comment on the application and raise concerns. Notices of all decisions will continue to be posted on the town’s website.
Councillors June Porter and Alex Maxwell voted against the change.
“I haven’t seen information to convince me of the efficiencies,” said Porter.
Maxwell said he felt the current system worked just fine.
“It seems to me if something is currently working, I don’t see why we have to change it,” he said.
The change will come before council on April 15 for final ratification.
