Ingersoll Council takes steps to streamline site plan process

At its meeting Monday night Ingersoll Council took a step toward streamlining its site plan process by removing elected politicians from its development coordinating committee.

Mayor Petrie stated “This change further streamlines our development process, allowing those that invest in our community to move through this process in a timely manner. This aligns with our and the provinces goals of making it easier for development to happen while at the same time ensuring the development meets the requirements of the Municipality. “

The Development Coordinating Committee is a committee that reviews site plan applications for industrial and commercial development and multi-unit residential development proposing more than 10 residential units. The process is not a public planning process as the proposals are already in keeping with Official Plan policies and are appropriately zoned or have gone through a planning process to establish the proper Official Plan designation and Zoning to implement the proposed development.

This decision brings the Town of Ingersoll in line with Bill 109, more homes for everyone, passed by the Province of Ontario on April 22, 2022, which requires municipal councils to delegate site plan control decisions to staff as per all applications received on or after July 1, 2022.

The site plan committee is a technical committee that insures that the property will connect properly to sanitary, water and storm services and that the property integrates properly with the road network in addition to identifying the building location, parking areas and landscape areas.

The committee involves various departments of the Town of Ingersoll including building, planning and engineering. It also involves the County Oxford Public Work and Community Planning, UTRCA, MTO and other agencies from time to time.
Said CAO Michael Graves “The intent of this amendment is to provide one meeting for the applicant to receive technical advice from several agencies instead of having to have several meetings and to ensure the construction proceeds smoothly.”

It can sometimes be difficult to get everyone together and involving politicians and their busy schedules can make it even more difficult.

Curtis Tighe, Manager of Economic Development and Tourism said “recently there have been a number of large site plan applications from large companies including Dot Foods Canada and 214 Carson Co. exceeding 1 million square feet of industrial space. Although we have had positive feedback about the speed of our processes we are always looking to improve. This step will make it even faster, which is a goal as prescribed in the Planning Act.”

Ingersoll follows in the steps of other municipalities that do not include politicians on the site plan committees including, Caledon, Milton, Burlington, Oakville, London, Mississauga, Woodstock and Norwich.