The team at UrbanSolutions recognizes the importance of continuous professional learning. It serves an important tool to ensure our team of planners and technicians are current with emerging trends and policies.  Recently, staff at UrbanSolutions attended an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) Reform breakfast seminar hosted by the Ontario Professional Planners (OPPI) Institute Western Lake Ontario District as well as a Co-ordinated Land Use Planning Review Webinar also hosted by OPPI.

The June 8, 2017 Breakfast Seminar hosted at the Art Gallery of Burlington informed planners on “Emerging Perspectives in Planning Law.”  Attendees benefited from having Joanna Wice, Solicitor at the City of Hamilton and Nancy Smith, Solicitor at Turkstra Mazza Associates as the guest speakers for the morning.  A refreshing outline was provided confirming the process Bill 139 would take to become law as part of the recently announced Ontario Municipal Board reform and the new Local Planning Appeals Tribunal’s that are to unfold.  This is one of the most significant changes to land use planning in Ontario and it will be important to monitor this transition as it will have a profound effect on the planning application process.  Formal comments and submissions for changes between the First and Second readings of the Bill can be made prior to August 14^th, 2017 by submitting them to:

Mr. Ken Petersen, Manager

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Local Government and Planning Policy Division
Provincial Planning Policy Branch
777 Bay Street – Floor 13
Toronto ON    M5G 2E5
Phone: (855) 776-8011

Later, on June 13, 2017, OPPI hosted the Co-ordinated Land Use Planning Review webinar.  The UrbanSolutions team gathered in the office board room to attentively listen to a technical briefing on the May 18^th, 2017 updates to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, the Greenbelt Plan, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, and the Niagara Escarpment Plan.  The presentation provided an opportunity for Provincial planning staff to walk OPPI members through the major changes to the various Plans as a result of the Co-orindated Land Use Planning Review process. As Planning Act applications are required to conform to Provincial Plans at the time of decision, it is important for all to understand these changes to ensure new proposals are in conformity.

These two seminars provided valuable insight into the changing environment planning decisions are made within and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have.