The following article intends to provide a brief primer on the Local Planning Appeal Support Centre (“LPASC”), including information on the purpose it serves, when it came into existence, and the recently-released Interim Guide.
What is it?
The LPASC opened its doors to the Ontario public in April 2018, and is arguably the most positive initiative of Bill 139, Building Better Communities and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017 (“Bill 139”), which also saw the controversial replacement of the Ontario Municipal Board (the “OMB”) with the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (the “LPAT”). The LPSAC intends to help people understand and navigate the land use planning and appeal process in Ontario, which as a result of Bill 139 has become increasingly challenging. It was established under the Local Planning Appeal Support Centre Act, 2017 with the mandate to:
- Establish and administer a cost-effective and efficient system for providing support services to eligible individuals with respect to matters governed by the Planning Act that are under the jurisdiction of the LPAT;
- Establish policies and priorities for support services based on its financial resources; and
- Offer information on land use planning, guidance on LPAT procedures, advice or representation as appropriate, and other services as may be prescribed by regulations.
Prior to its coming into existence, the resources available to members of the public interested in participating in the land use planning system in the province, and in particular in the appeals system, was extremely limited. Especially given this is a field of law where civic engagement and the number of unrepresented individuals is high, the LPASC represents a resource that was sorely missing under the OMB regime.
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