Development Applications

The Ontario Planning Act generally governs the land development process in Ontario. The planning process includes many activities that are required for the conversion of raw land to a project with building permit availability including the processing of development applications, preparation of municipal development agreements and servicing, concluding with final site inspections and preparation of as-built plans that are filed with the municipality. The various applications for development are numerous and require a wide range of plans and designs, and professional opinions contained in letters, reports, and studies. Such applications are required for official plan amendments, zoning by-law amendments and creation of new zoning by-laws, plans of subdivision and condominium, site plan applications, consents to sever land, minor variances from local by-laws, development charges, applications for aggregate licenses and procedures for compensating for the expropriation of land. During the process, professional engineers and surveyors are often called upon for expert testimony at hearings and in courts of law.

Clipsham development teams compile and analyze data on land topography and boundary features, landscape, natural environment, geological, geotechnical, hydrological and traffic and other factors affecting land use. They confer with municipal, provincial and federal authorities, lawyers, land developers, the public and special interest groups to formulate and develop project plans. They prepare and recommend land development concepts and plans for zoning, subdivisions, transportation, public utilities, community facilities, parks, agricultural and other land uses. In addition, they prepare plans for environmental protection and protection of watersheds, present plans to civic, rural and regional authorities and hold public meetings to present plans, proposals or planning studies to the general public and special interest groups. Clipsham teams also review and evaluate proposals for land use and development plans and prepare recommendations. They process applications for land development permits and administer land use plans and zoning by-laws.

Clipsham Limited is skilled at project management and is able to pull together multi-disciplinary teams of specialists when needed to move applications through the development process. If you are contemplating a development project, contact Clipsham staff to find out how engineers and surveyors can steer your project through the complex development applications.