March 26th, 2024

As mentioned in previous updates, on March 18th, Council adopted proposed amendments to an updated Development Application Procedures (DAPR) Bylaw, intending to establish a bylaw consistent with recent legislative changes to the Local Government Act (LGA) and the City’s new application processing approaches.

The proposed updates are as follows:

• Aligning Zoning Bylaw Amendment Procedures with New Provincial Legislation

• Bill 44 prohibits local governments from holding public hearings for residential rezoning applications consistent with the OCP.

• Updating Development Permit Application Procedures

• Division 7 - Development Permits of the LGA do not require an opportunity for public input to Council to be provided when Council considers a Development Permit application. Development Permits are typically used for regulating the ‘form and character’ of buildings and sites and cannot vary uses or density (varying use or density requires rezoning).

• Enabling Earlier Notice of Development Applications

• The bylaw includes new requirements for posting development application notice signs on the properties subject to an OCP Amendment, Zoning Bylaw Amendment, Development Permit, and/or Development Variance Permit application.

• These requirements will result in notice signs (with application information, applicant, and City staff contact information) being posted earlier in the development application process.
• These signs will also direct the public to the City’s online application portal, where they can view application information, drawings, and renderings, and track application process progress, including drawing/rendering changes, Council dates, etc. Applicant and City staff contact information will also be provided on the application portal.

• Updated requirements for development servicing agreements consistent with the Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw, and an increased completion time for applications (24 months from 12 months) to provide more flexibility for applicants.

More information can be found in the explanatory memo by City staff and the updated bylaw.

March 12th, 2024

On March 4th, Council gave First, Second, and Third Reading to proposed amendments to the Development Application Procedures Review (DAPR) Bylaw, with the intent of making the bylaw consistent with recent legislative changes to the Local Government Act (LGA) and the City’s new application processing approaches.

The proposed updates are as follows:

• Aligning Zoning Bylaw Amendment Procedures with New Provincial Legislation 
  • Bill 44 prohibits local governments from holding public hearings for residential rezoning applications consistent with the Official Community Plan (OCP);
• Updating Development Permit Application Procedures
  • Division 7 - Development Permits of the LGA do not require an opportunity for public input to Council to be provided when Council considers a Development Permit application. Development Permits are typically used for regulating the ‘form and character’ of buildings and sites and cannot vary uses or density (varying use or density requires rezoning);
• Enabling Earlier Notice of Development Applications
  • The bylaw includes new requirements for posting development application notice signs on the properties subject to an OCP Amendment, Zoning Bylaw Amendment, Development Permit, and/or Development Variance Permit application;
    • These requirements will result in notice signs (with application information, applicant, and City staff contact information) being posted earlier in the development application process; 
    • These signs will also direct the public to the City’s online application portal, where they can view application information, drawings, and renderings, and track application process progress, including drawing/rendering changes, Council dates, etc. Applicant and City staff contact information will also be provided on the application portal.
• Updated requirements for development servicing agreements consistent with the Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw, and an increased completion time for applications (24 months from 12 months) to provide more flexibility for applicants.

More information can be found in the explanatory memo by City staff and the updated bylaw.