Planning and Development

Council uses Municipal Planning Services to provide planning and development services within the Municipality of Highlands East.

Land Use Planning

The first point of contact for all planning inquiries is our Junior Planner.

Pre-consultation

Pre-consultation comments will be required for most planning applications with the Municipality's planning consultant to assist applicants in filing a complete application. Pre-consultation review will require the submission of an application form and submission materials such as a site plan and survey and may include a site visit and staff research. 

Process

Completed applications are received by the Junior Planner. Municipal Planning Services Ltd. reviews and administers applications for planning approvals in accordance with the Municipality's Official Plan, Zoning By-law and a variety of other policies and legislation including:

Committee of Adjustment

The administration and planning related functions with respect to the Committee of Adjustment for Minor Variances are received in the Administration and Finance Department and processed through the Committee of Adjustment Secretary, Tracy Millar.

Fees

 Planning Fees

 
Planning Fees: Consultations
ServiceFee
Pre-consultation Prior to Application Submission 1 $450
Planning Fees: Zoning By-Law Amendments
ServiceFee
Major Zoning By-Law Amendment Application 2 $3450
Minor Zoning By-Law Amendment Application 3 $1200
Temporary Use By-Law Application $1200
Request to Lift Holding (H) Provision $750
Planning Fees: Official Plan Amendments
ServiceFee
Major Local Official Plan Amendment 4 $5000
Minor Local Official Plan Amendment 5 $2000
Simultaneous Local Official Plan and Zoning By-Law Amendment Official Plan Amendment Fee plus 50% of Zoning By-Law Amendment Fee
Planning Fees: Site Plan Control Applications
ServiceFee
Major Commercial (over 600m2) $2000 plus $1.50 per m2
Minor Commercial (under 600m2) $1500 plus $1.50 per m2
Industrial/Institutional $2000 plus $1.50 per m2
Major Multi-Residential (6 or more units) $2000 plus $50 per unit
Minor Multi-Residential (5 or fewer units) $1500 plus $50 per unit
Standard Residential (1-2 units) $1200
Major Amendment 50% of current application fee
Minor Amendment $500
Minor Amendment to Site Plan (no amendment to agreement) $500
Request to Waive Site Plan Control $200

Staff Review and Comments for Revised Plans (after first set of revisions)

$500
Recirculation of Revised Plans to External Agencies for Comment $300 
Planning Fees: Minor Variance Applications
ServiceFee
Standard Minor Variance Application $900
Complex Minor Variance Application 6 $1200
Planning Fees: Plans of Subdivision / Condominium / Consent
ServiceFee
Municipal Review of Plan of Subdivision / Condominium Application $2000
Pre-consultation Comments for a Consent Application $650
Deeming By-Law $500
Consent Administration Fee $350
Deeming By-Law to Accompany Road Allowance Closure and Purchase $200
Planning Fees: Agreements
ServiceFee
Subdivision Agreement $750
Severance Agreement $750
Encroachment Agreement or License of Occupation $750
Responsibility Agreement $750
Legal Agreement (any type; administered by staff) $750
Renewal of Encroachment Agreement or License of Occupation $500
Amend Agreement $500
Request to Remove Agreement from Title $250
Planning Fees: Miscellaneous
ServiceFee
Zoning and Building Compliance Letter $100
Zoning By-Law and Official Plan Print Copies Costs Only
Telecommunications Tower Review $1000
Telecommunications Tower Private Circulation $200
Amendment to Application Requiring Recirculation $300
Amendment to Application Not Requiring Recirculation $100
Additional Staff Site Inspection $100
Additional Public Meeting or Open House $300
Review and Reactivation of Application Deferred at Request of Applicant 50% of the application fee if more than six (6) months have passed since deferral
Request to Council Requiring Staff Report Not Outlined Above 7 $100
Planning Fees: Deposits
Deposit TypeFee
Peer Review Deposit 8 $5000
Professional Services Deposit 8 $2500
Legal Fees Deposit 8 $750
Ontario Land Tribunal Deposit 9 $5000
Planning Fees: Solar
ServiceFee
Micro Ground Mount Solar Clearance $350 Non-refundable administration fee.
Small Scale Ground Mount Solar Clearance $1,200 (Includes $350 Non-refundable administration fee.)
Resubmission of Small Scale Ground Mount Solar Clearance Application (If changes to the application with the inclusion require a report to council.) $600
Large Industrial Scale Ground Mount Solar Clearance $2,000 (Includes $350 Non-refundable administration fee.)

Resubmission of Large Industrial Scale Ground Mount Solar Clearance Application (If changes to the application with the inclusion require a report to council.) $1000

For more details please see:

1 Pre-consultation: Applications for Zoning By-Law amendment, official plan amendment, site plan control, plan of subdivision or plan of condominium require the submission of a pre-consultation review to the municipality in advance of application submission. Pre-consultation is not required, but is strongly encouraged, for minor variance applications.

2 Major Zoning By-Law Amendment: A "Major" Zoning By-Law amendment is a Zoning By-Law amendment that (one or more may apply):

  • Requires a major amendment to the Municipality's Official Plan and/or an amendment to the County of Haliburton's Official Plan;
  • Requires extensive studies and/or consultation and collaboration with external agencies; 
  • Constitutes a change of use to permit new Commercial, Industrial, Extractive or Institutional uses;
  • Constitutes a substantial increase in density (ie, accompanying an application for Plan of Condominium or Subdivision, conversion to medium or high density residential use from low density residential use.).
  • Constitutes a substantial a increase in the development envelope or density for existing Commercial, Industrial, Extractive or Institutional uses.

3 Minor Zoning By-Law Amendment: A "Minor" Zoning Bylaw amendment is a Zoning By-Law amendment that:

  • Applies to a single parcel or land for low density residential use, including the construction of an additional dwelling unit;
  • Permits additional ancillary or accessory uses or structures that are compatible with the existing Zone designation and Official Plan policies;
  • Permits minor increases in floor area, height, parking areas, etc., for existing Commercial, Industrial or Institutional uses;
  • Clarifies existing zone boundaries through a professional evaluation (ie, a qualified professional providing revised environmental protection boundaries, hazard land boundaries, etc.).

4 Major Official Plan Amendment: A "Major" Official Plan amendment s an Official Plan amendment that (one or more may apply):

  • Proposes a re-designation or change in land use for property(ies);
  • Requires many changes to the policies and schedules of the Official Plan;
  • Is more significant in scale and scope than a minor Official Plan amendment, and which may have greater impact or policy implications beyond the subject lands. Applications relating to more than one property would normally be this category;
  • A site-specific application representing a large scale development/redevelopment or a change in use. An application involving significant changes to the text or policies of the Official Plan would also fall in this category; and,
  • An application that also requires an amendment to the County of Haliburton Official Plan.

5 Minor Official Plan Amendment: A "Minor" Official Plan amendment is an Official Plan amendment that:

  • Proposes a small-scale exception to a specific Official Plan standard (e.g., minor changes to the number of permitted units; or to add a site-specific use limited In scale);
  • Proposes a minor change to a specific policy that is limited in scope and typically to one property;
  • Maintains the intent and purpose of the Official Plan; and,
  • Shall have limited impact or policy implications beyond the subject lands.

6 Complex Minor Variance Application: A "Complex" Minor Variance application is an application for minor variance that includes one or more of the following elements:

  • A minor variance application for a property subject to a site plan or other development agreement with the Municipality;
  • Requires studies or reports to support the application;
  • Requires consultation and collaboration with external agencies beyond the minimum requirements of the Planning Act.

7 Requests to Council Requiring a Staff Report: Occasionally, land owners may request that the Municipality assist with planning processes or real property matters, such as permission to cross a one foot reserve, or that the Municipality take widening to a road to facilitate a lot merger. Where these requests require a planning staff report to provide context or advice alongside the proposal, a nominal fee may be charged to cover costs.

This fee does not apply to matters whereby Council has directed staff to bring a report for their consideration.

8 Deposits: The Municipality may require the payment of deposits upon submission of any application.

Deposits may be applied to cover peer review fees, professional fees should the Municipality require the expertise or advice of a third party consultant (engineer, planner, surveyor, etc.), as well as any legal costs incurred. Deposits may also be applied to any registration fees, disbursements, reproduction costs, postage, advertising, telephone charges, facsimile charges, and any other reasonable costs which may be incurred by the Municipality.

Should fees exceed the initial deposit received, the Municipality shall request further deposits or payments of invoices. Additional funds may be requested from time to time, to fully cover the municipal expenses. Work will not be completed by the Municipality, its solicitor or consultants until such deposit has been paid by the applicant.

The Municipality will keep an accurate record of all costs incurred with respect to planning applications. Upon completion of the processing of an application, the Municipality will reconcile the account for the applications where a deposit has been paid. A refund of the deposit will be made with the exception of those costs incurred by the Municipality, as determined by the Treasurer. If the cost to process an application exceeds the deposit, the applicant will be responsible for the additional costs and will pay such costs upon invoice by the Municipality.

9 Ontario Land Tribunal Appeal Deposit: If Council supports an application and its decision on the application is appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) by someone other than the applicant, the applicant will be responsible for all Municipal costs to defend the decision. These costs may include all planning fees, legal fees, engineering fees, fees of other professionals, disbursements, reproduction costs, telephone charges, facsimile charges, peer review fees and any other reasonable costs which may be incurred by the Municipality.

The applicant will submit a deposit to the Municipality, upon submission of the file to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), and will enter into an agreement with the Municipality to fully cover Municipal expenses with regard to the appeal.

Additional funds may be requested to fully cover the Municipal expenses. Work will not be completed by the Municipality, its solicitor or consultants until such deposit has been paid by the applicant.