At the May 23, 2024, District Community and Planning Services Committee, staff told members that they have closed six inactive draft approved plans of subdivision or condominium, two in Gravenhurst and the rest in the Town of Huntsville.
In a report by District Director of Planning Lisa Marden to the committee, she said that as per the District’s new planning fee schedule, an annual file maintenance fee will be charged for any file that has been draft approved for more than five years. At that time, staff will review the files, “and any files that have not demonstrated substantial progress towards final approval and registration will be closed.”
Marden noted that the District’s file management/tracking software will be used to monitor inactive files. “Where file dormancy is flagged (i.e. more than
one year of inactivity), notification will be provided to the applicant requesting that substantive action be completed or the file will be closed. Evaluation of the file and
consideration of mitigating circumstances such as major market disruptions, applicant/consultant illness or injury, and complex technical issues, are at the discretion
of the Director of Planning.”
Marden stated that closed files will be communicated to the committee. She also noted that should a property owner or applicant wish to reactivate the application within five yeas of it being closed, the Planning Act allows approval authorities to deem a draft plan not to have lapsed.
“The owner/applicant would be expected to demonstrate viability of the development plan, including submission of updated technical supporting studies and ensuring consistency and conformity with Provincial and Municipal planning policies. As this is a relatively new provision of the Planning Act (Bill 109), a process for accepting this type of application has not yet been determined.”
The Province and municipal sector are supporting the closure of inactive files to, among other things, make way for new development, force prospectors to divest themselves of land, particularly in the urban area, that could be developed with housing, enable the allocation of new water and sewer service capacity, encourage more timely development and develop more housing across the province.
“It is a goal of the District, supported by recent Provincial policy changes, to prioritize development that is shovel-ready, market-based and affordable, while implementing processes to address stalled developments. The closure of old and active files is anticipated to help reduce the risk of incurring costs related to OLT appeals and administrative and legal challenges associated with out-dated approvals, reallocate staff time to the review of active applications and ultimately support good planning outcomes for the District of Muskoka,” stated Marden in her report.
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