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Our objective for our private sector clients is to develop solutions to the issues raised in the approvals process which are acceptable to our clients from a business perspective, while at the same time addressing the concerns of municipalities and other approval authorities in an effective manner.
It is our philosophy that early identification of all necessary approvals will minimize duplication of process and will avoid unnecessary delays.
Where appropriate, we are able to identify a multi-disciplinary team of experts with appropriate skills and to work with these experts to develop and implement an effective strategy for obtaining the necessary approvals.
In our experience the most effective approvals processes are achieved through:
- a thorough understanding of the policy framework applicable to the particular project, including the provincial, regional and local policies;
- an understanding of all the approvals that are required for the proposed to be constructed;
- a comprehensive identification of the issues that must be addressed to achieve each approval;
- the identification of appropriately skilled and experienced experts to address the identified issues and to work as part of a cooperative, inter-disciplinary team;
- a willingness on the part of the proponent/developer to address issues early in the approvals process and in a flexible manner;
- a single-minded focus of all members of the approvals team on the achievement of the necessary approvals, on a time and cost effective basis; and
- an understanding that the approvals process might end up at the Ontario Municipal Board in an adversarial process with the result that all documentation that is prepared by the consulting team must be “hearings ready and defensible” (because it is inordinately expensive and sometimes fatal to try to fix problems late in the approvals process).
- identifying the necessary approvals required to permit the construction of the development;
- preparing and submitting applications;
- coordinating the work of experts in various disciplines to ensure that it is internally consistent and defensible;
- liaising with the staff and elected officials at the various municipal levels and other approval authorities;
- representation at community meetings, public meetings, Committees of Council and Council, Committees of Adjustment and other approval authorities;
- developing a strategy for addressing the issues of potential objectors, including adjacent landowners;
- negotiating, drafting and reviewing Official Plan amendment(s), Zoning By-law amendment(s), site plan agreement(s), servicing agreement(s), development agreement(s) and other agreements;
- addressing municipal cost sharing and related issues, such as development charge by-laws; and
- representation before the Ontario Municipal Board, the Environmental Review Tribunal, Federal Environmental Assessment Review Panels and courts, if necessary.