The Community Development Coordinator noted that a general amendment to the Township's Official Plan is proposed under Section 17 and 21 of the Planning Act. The purpose of the amendment is to revise the second unit policies in Section 6.2.1 by updating terminology and by revising the policy to permit an additional dwelling unit within a detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling or townhouse dwelling and one additional dwelling unit in a detached accessory structure to a detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling or townhouse dwelling. The effect of the amendment is to address provincial changes to the Planning Act and to be consistent with the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Official Plan with respect to additional residential units.
A new Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw is proposed under Section 34 of the Planning Act. The draft Zoning Bylaw has been prepared to implement the Township's new Official Plan approved in 2020. The Zoning Bylaw will introduce various new or altered definitions, provisions, and zones for the purpose of prohibiting and regulating the use of land and the erection, location and use of buildings and structures. The bylaw will apply to all lands within the corporate limits of the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal and will repeal and replace existing Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw No. 2012-35 and all amendments thereto.
Novatech will present the proposed general amendment to the Township's Official Plan and the proposed new Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw. Following the presentation, anyone who wished to speak in favour of or contrary to either item was given the opportunity to do so. It was noted that a decision on these proposed documents would not be made at this meeting. Council will consider any comments made tonight or received in writing at a future meeting of Council before making a decision on these items. Upcoming meeting agendas can be viewed online at twpec.ca.
In accordance with sections 17 and 34 of the Planning Act, appeals cannot be made to the Ontario Land Tribunal in respect of Official Plan policies that authorize the use of Additional Residential Units, or of the parts of a bylaw that give effect to such policies.
Any person or public body who makes a verbal presentation at this public meeting or a written presentation before the bylaw is passed may appeal Council's passage of a zoning bylaw to the OLT within 20 days from the date the notice of the passage of the bylaw is given. The notice of appeal should be filed with the municipal clerk and must be accompanied by written reasons and the fee required by the Ontario Land Tribunal.
If you do not make an oral presentation tonight or a written submission to the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal before the bylaw is passed, you will not be entitled to appeal Council's decision on the proposed Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Additionally, you may not be added as a party to a hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Land Tribunal unless, in the opinion of the Tribunal, there are reasonable grounds to do so.
Also note that an Official Plan Amendment, once adopted by Council, is subject to the approval of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.
Novatech representatives reviewed the Township's Zoning Bylaw Amendment process to date and highlighted possible minor definition changes pertaining to additional residential units and zone changes. Next steps in the approval process for both the Zoning Bylaw and the Official Plan Amendment were provided.