Process for Zoning Changes: There have been a number of questions about the process for making zoning changes. Public consultation is without question a very major part of that process. Within every municipality the consideration of any zoning change starts with a proposal by a developer. The proposal is reviewed by the Municipality’s professional staff who provide expert advice and information to the Planning and Sustainable Development Advisory Committee (CCUDD). The Planning Committee is comprised of two members of Council, plus 6 residents of Chelsea who are nominated and approved by Council to sit on the Committee. These residents both have a passion for their community and have qualifications or experience that enable them to make valuable contributions to the consideration of requests for minor derogations, zoning changes etc. The Planning Committee then makes a recommendation to the Council, which has a role to review and consider the broad interests of the residents of Chelsea. The Planning Committee considered this issue at its meeting on December 3 and we do not yet have the final minutes of that meeting. For zoning change requests, there is a lot to consider and Council needs to have time to ask questions, receive information about and discuss a range of issues, including: - the impact of the proposal on the Village and Municipality as a whole (e.g. how would the density and height fit next to smaller, lower buildings?); - the rationale for requiring a zoning change (e.g. why isn’t the current zoning adequate? Is the change being advocated to increase our tax base and is that what we want?); - what benefits for the community, like affordable or seniors housing (e.g. are they realistic and will they be delivered? Have we seen the plans? Will they meet all regulations for seniors housing?); - what implications for traffic and how will they be addressed; - what implications for the fire and public works departments (e.g. do we have a statement of their views); - what potential costs to the municipality to modify any roads or intersections or other infrastructure; - what impact on other ongoing and future development proposals (e.g. will they demand the same? What legal recourse would they have?); - what impact on taxation models for major infrastructure projects (e.g. water and sewer); and - what impact on other municipal services (e.g. recreation, police); - etc. A draft regulation is then submitted to a Council meeting for adoption, along with a Notice of Motion. If the draft regulation is adopted by Council, this means that Council is satisfied that it has sufficient information, that it has had a good discussion and that any remaining concerns have been addressed by changes to the proposed zoning changes. In other words, it is satisfied with the draft, supports the main elements and now wants to hear what residents think through a public consultation. Your taxes pay for this process, and the purpose is to ensure expert advice and a thorough examination of the issues and rationale for a proposal. It is not to replace or preclude public consultation, but to serve the best interests of an effective public consultation that the Council needs to do its work. While some might argue that this consultation should be only with the immediate neighbours, a zoning change proposal of this magnitude should be consulted with all residents of the Municipality. Council then needs to take into account the views expressed and modify the regulation as appropriate. A second Notice of Motion is then made at a Council meeting at the same time that a second draft of the regulation is considered / adopted by Council. That second draft would then be put to Council at its subsequent meeting for final adoption. Council needs to take the time to do this right for interests of our community and of course public consultation is a major part of this process.
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 21:45:45 +0000
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