Important Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) Updates and ELTO Webinars

Important Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) Updates and ELTO Webinars 

As a result of Bill 139, Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017, the Ontario Municipal Board is preparing to become the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) on April 3, 2018. To explain some of the changes to Planning Act appeals that will be result from Bill 139, Environment and Land Tribunals Ontario (ELTO) will be streaming a webinar entitled “Local Planning Appeal Tribunal: A Primer” at the following times (please note that the same presentation will be made during each session): 

• Wednesday, March 21, 2018 from 2pm-5pm
• Wednesday, March 21, 2018 from 6:30pm-9:30 pm
• Tuesday, March 27, 2018 from 9:30am-12:30pm

Further information regarding the webinar, including sign-up details, can be found on ELTO’s website.

ELTO has also recently released draft Rules for the LPAT, which may also be found on ELTO’s website. Comments are being accepted on the draft Rules until March 23, 2018. It is contemplated that the Rules and a number of Planning Act regulations will also take effect on April 3, 2018, including the following: 

• Ontario Regulation 67/18 “Transitional Matters – General” – amending Ontario Regulation 174/16 “Transitional Matters Relating to the Smart Growth for Our Communities Act, 2015”
• Ontario Regulation 68/18 – amending Ontario Regulation 543/06 “Official Plans and Plan Amendments”
• Ontario Regulation 69/18 – amending Ontario Regulation 549/06 “Prescribed Time Period – Subsections 17 (44.4), 34 (24.4) and 51 (52.4) of the Act”
• Ontario Regulation 70/18 – amending Ontario Regulation 551/06 “Local Appeal Bodies”
• Ontario Regulation 71/18 – amending Ontario Regulation 200/96 “Minor Variance Applications”
• Ontario Regulation 72/18 – amending Ontario Regulation 197/96 “Consent Applications”
• Ontario Regulation 73/18 – amending Ontario Regulation 545/06 “Zoning By-Laws, Holding By-Laws and Interim Control By-Laws”
• Ontario Regulation 74/18 – amending Ontario Regulation 544/06 “Plans of Subdivision”
• Ontario Regulation 75/18 – amending Ontario Regulation 173/16 “Community Planning Permits”

Finally, please note that two new regulations under the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal Act, 2017 have been made, dealing with Planning Act appeals (Ontario Regulation 102/18) and transitional matters (Ontario Regulation 101/18). These will also take effect on April 3, 2018. 

The OBA Municipal Law Section executive has been actively involving in analyzing developments relating to Bill 139 and will provide further updates as they become available.