1. Planning Advisory Committee Orientation
February 19th , 2019

2. The Planning Division
Administers the land use planning process in addition to addressing matters related to growth and development within the boundaries of the City of Cornwall.
The orientation will cover the following topics:
P.A.C. - Planning Advisory Committee
The Planning Act
The Provincial Policy Statement
City of Cornwall Official Plan
Official Plan Amendments
City of Cornwall Zoning By-law
Zoning By-law Amendments & Minor Variances
Site Plan Control
Plans of Subdivision and Condominium
The Waterfront Plan

3. Planning Advisory Committee - PAC
The Planning Advisory Committee is appointed by City Council under the authority granted by the Province of Ontario in the Planning Act R.S.O. 1990, Chapter P. 13 for the purposes of providing Council with recommendations specific to community planning matters, development applications and policies.
The Planning Advisory Committee makes recommendations to City Council on a variety of planning applications such as plans of subdivision, condominiums, rezoning applications, and amendments to the Official Plan.

4. The Planning Act
The Planning Act (the Act) is provincial legislation that sets out the ground rules for land use planning in Ontario. It describes how land uses may be controlled, and who may control them.
The purpose of the Act for example is to:
promote sustainable economic development in a healthy natural environment within a provincial policy framework
provide for a land use planning system led by provincial policy
provide for planning processes that are fair by making them open, accessible, timely and efficient
encourage co-operation and coordination among various interests

5. City of Cornwall Official Plan
The Planning Act
City of Cornwall Official Plan

6. The Provincial Policy Statement
The Provincial Policy Statement, 2014 (PPS) applies province wide and contains overall policy directions on matters of provincial interest related to land use planning and development. The PPS promotes a policy-led planning system that recognizes there are complex inter-relationships among and between environmental, economic and social factors in land use planning.
3 main pillars of the PPS:
Protecting Public Health & Safety
Wise Use & Management of Resources
Building Strong Communities

7. City of Cornwall Official Plan
An Official Plan is a long range planning and policy document that directs growth and development within the city based on the direction of Council, local context, community input, and provincial policies.

8. City of Cornwall Official Plan
The City of Cornwall’s Official Plan was recently adopted by City Council on October 23rd, 2017 and approved by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing on April 11th, 2018.
All development matters must conform with the City’s Official Plan and be consist with the PPS.
The Official Plan provides strategic direction and a policy framework for Council, administration, developers, and citizens for:
Growth and Land Use Designations
Housing
Parks and Recreation
Waterfront Planning
Economic Development
Urban Design
Transportation
Services and Utilities
Arts, Culture, Heritage Resources
Sustainable Development & The Environment

9. Official Plan Amendments
An official plan amendment is a formal application that changes a municipality's Official Plan. Changes may be needed because of new circumstances in the community or because of requests made by property owners.
For example: A property has recently been severed and sold to a developer. The area is designated as ‘GC’ or General Commercial in the Official Plan, which does not support their intent to introduce mixed use apartments and town houses. They must receive approval for an Official Plan Amendment to change the designation from General Commercial  Urban Residential.
Planning Advisory Committee would consider the following when reviewing an amendment:
Consistency with the Provincial Policy Statement
Achievement of the strategic directions of the Official Plan
Impact on the neighbouring communities
Fiscal and functional impact on infrastructure, services and transportation

10. City of Cornwall Zoning By-law
A zoning by-law:
implements the objectives and policies of a municipality's official plan
provides a legal way of managing land use and future development
in addition to the official plan, protects the community from conflicting and possibly dangerous land uses.
A zoning by-law controls the use of land in our community.
It states exactly:
how land may be used
where buildings and other structures can be located
the types of buildings that are permitted and how they may be used
the lot sizes and dimensions, parking requirements, building heights and setbacks from the street.

11. Zoning By-law Amendment & Minor Variance
If a proposed development is not in accordance with the Zoning By-law, a Zoning By-law amendment, also known as a rezoning, is required. For example, a Zoning By-law amendment may:
Request a change of land use from residential to commercial to permit a development with stores and restaurants, instead of residential homes
Seek more units or height for a building than what is permitted
For minor amendments to the Zoning By-law, a minor variance application may be more appropriate. Minor variances are reviewed by the Committee of Adjustment.
Minor variances can include matters such as:
A decrease in the setback from building to property line
Approval of smaller lots for development
An increase in the lot coverage of the building
Reductions in the amount of required parking for a development

12. Site Plan Approval
Site Plan Approval is a method of reviewing development proposals through a comprehensive process involving multiple City Divisions as well as outside agencies, which may include: Raisin Region Conservation Authority, Ministry of Transportation, utility companies, First Nations, etc.
Site Plan Control generally applies to most major developments within the City of Cornwall and is approved by administration. Site Plan Control is a means through which the City can direct and influence the physical form and functionality of the exterior elements of a development site based on established policies and design guidelines.
For example: Massing and orientation of buildings, landscape design, pedestrian access & traffic circulation, parking areas, engineering & servicing requirements, lighting, signage, fire safety, etc.

13. Site Plan Approval SMARTCENTRES - COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT NINTH STREET WEST 420

14. Plans of Subdivision
The Subdivision process allows land to be divided in a comprehensive manner, often requiring the creation of public streets, multiple lots, and the need for extensive infrastructure. The division of land is generally subject to a public process ensuring that provincial interests and local planning concerns - as expressed in the Official Plan - are satisfied. The larger the number of lots being created, the more complex the considerations in the planning approval process will generally be. This might include:
Environmental conditions of the land
Natural & Cultural Heritage impacts
Engineering & Servicing constraints
Transportation & Traffic impacts
Community amenities such as location of schools, parks, and pedestrian connections
The approval authority (PAC) must approve a plan of subdivision pursuant to the Planning Act before the plan can be registered at the Land Registry Office and the individual parcels sold off for construction.

15. Plans of Subdivision EASTRIDGE SUBDIVISION PHASE 7

16. Plans of Condominium
A condominium can be a high-rise or low-rise apartment, townhouse, freehold or detached house, office complex or commercial mall – any configuration of buildings. What sets a condominium apart is the way in which owners share the ownership of common elements (e.g., parking areas, roads and sidewalks, corridors, lobbies, elevators, heat and electrical systems) while having individual ownership of their own unit.
Similar to a Plan of Subdivision, a Plan of Condominium must be approved by PAC before it can be registered and would undergo the same type of review encompassing many of the same considerations.

17. Plans of Condominium CLEMENT - PHASED PLAN OF CONDOMINIUM FIRST STREET EAST 226

18. The Waterfront Plan
The City of Cornwall’s Waterfront Plan is a secondary plan established to direct the future of one of Cornwall’s greatest assets.
A secondary plan is a plan which provides specific policies for an area of the City where more detailed direction is needed for matters beyond the general framework provided by the Official Plan.
The Waterfront Plan is currently being updated and should be complete by early summer 2019.