Pre-consultation

**Our pre-consultation process has changed.**

What is pre-consultation and why do I need it?

Pre-consultation is a two-stage process that ensures an application is ready to be processed before it is submitted. Pre-consultation meetings allow potential applicants or their authorized representatives to present and discuss a development proposal with relevant staff and external agencies. The meeting provides staff with the opportunity to clarify the application process.

The Stage 1 pre-consultation meeting allows staff and agencies to provide preliminary comments on the overall development proposal, identify any key issues, comment on the approvals that will be required, and confirm the supporting information, materials and studies that must be submitted with the planning application to be considered a complete application under the Planning Act. This process will prepare the applicant for the Stage 2 pre-consultation meeting.

The Stage 2 pre-consultation meeting is a review of technical proposal materials. A Stage 2 pre-consultation meeting is required for each subsequent development application. Staff will complete an initial review of the supporting information, materials, and studies before submission as supporting documentation for an application. The Municipality will coordinate review and commenting from all applicable Municipal departments and agencies. Applicants will be requested to demonstrate how the comments provided have been addressed in any applications submitted to the Municipality.

Following this new process will help improve application approval timelines and reduce the number of modifications needed.

The pre-consultation process is required before the Municipality can accept an application for:

Official Plan Amendments
Zoning By-Law Amendments
Draft Plans of Subdivision
Draft Plans of Condominium
Site Plan Approvals

A meeting may be required for Part Lot Control, Land Division, and Committee of Adjustment applications at the discretion of the Planning and Infrastructure Services Department.

After each pre-consultation meeting, staff will provide the applicant and/or owner with signed Minutes of Pre-consultation. The applicant and/or owner will be required to sign that they agree with the minutes and submit the minutes for both meetings as part of a complete application.

A Record of Pre-consultation, confirmed and signed by staff and the applicant, is required to form a complete application.

Stage 1 Pre-consultation Meeting

To arrange a Stage 1 pre-consultation meeting, complete the Pre-consultation Request Form and pay the required pre-consultation fee. Once your application has been reviewed, staff will contact you to schedule a meeting at the next available date. The cost of a Stage 1 pre-consultation meeting is $1,000.

Conceptual site plan required information

A conceptual site plan will be required in PDF format or two hard copies, with all measurements indicated in metric. The plan should be to scale and illustrate the following:

All property boundaries and approximate dimensions
Location of existing buildings and parking spaces
Location of proposed buildings and parking spaces (including estimated distance from nearest property lines)
Existing surrounding land uses
Location of all private servicing (well, septic)
Existing and proposed property entrances and driveways (including description of surface material)
Existing and proposed landscaping (i.e. trees, hedges, fencing – include height and type, pond, stream, etc.)
Location of watercourses and natural features
Building elevations (if applicable)
North arrow
Property address
Other relevant information, as appropriate, to assist staff in understanding the proposal

Apply for a Stage 1 Pre-consultation Meeting

Stage 2 Pre-consultation Meeting

To arrange a Stage 2 pre-consultation meeting, complete the Pre-consultation Request Form and pay the required pre-consultation fee. You must provide all of the listed materials identified in the Record of Minutes from your Stage 1 pre-consultation meeting. Once your application and relevant items have been received, staff will contact you to schedule a meeting at the next available date. The cost of a Stage 2 pre-consultation meeting is $5,000.

Apply for a Stage 2 Pre-consultation Meeting

Example of the Zoning By-law Amendment Process, effective January 1, 2023:

example of the Zoning By-law Amendment Process, effective January 1, 2023