North Grenville's Development Review Team (DRT) offers a one-window approach for developers to pre-consult on the technical, engineering and planning approval requirements for their proposals. DRT allows the Municipality to manage the growth and development of the community in an efficient and comprehensive manner.
DRT includes representatives from the local Conservation Authority, United Counties, as well as staff from the Municipality’s Planning & Development Department, Public Works Departments, Parks, Recreation and Culture Department, Emergency and Protective Services and Corporate Services. Coordination of external and internal partners allows for coordination of comments and direction ahead of a development application. This includes the drafting of a pre-consultation letter to guide the developer in the submission of their complete application. This eliminates the potential for conflicting and overlapping advice, and results in comprehensive, timely planning recommendations and approvals.
The DRT is a key element in making North Grenville investment ready.
DRT has helped to position the Municipality as an active partner in the growth and development of the Community and a preferred place to do business. Focusing on Client Service rather than "regulation" gives North Grenville a competitive advantage over other communities.
If you want to set up an appointment to meet with our Development Review Team to discuss your development proposal, please fill in the "Development Review Team - Pre-consultation" form and email it to our Planning Department at
The Municipality's Zoning By-laws describe the specific uses permitted on any parcel of land and regulates lot size, the height and location of buildings, and parking requirements. Any proposed use of land or change in the form or use of an existing building must comply with all the regulations and requirements in the Zoning By-law.
If you want to develop your property in a way which is not permitted by the Zoning By-law, you must apply for a Zoning By-law amendment (re-zoning). However, minor changes to the Zoning By-law may be permitted by applying to the Committee of Adjustment for a Minor Variance. In addition, if the proposed use is not in accordance with the Official Plan, you will need to apply for an Official Plan Amendment.
HOW TO APPLY
Before making an application, you should discuss your proposal with a planner in the Municipality's Planning Department. It may also be beneficial to refer your proposal to the Municipality's Development Review Team as part of the pre-consultation process. Contact
If it is determined that a Zoning By-law Amendment is the only means available for accomplishing your development, then you should submit the appropriate application form complete with all required supporting documents, along with the appropriate fee which will be discussed during your initial consultations.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Once a complete application has been filed, a date for a Public Meeting will be set and Notice of Public Meeting will be sent to all surrounding property owners within 120 metres of the property to which the application applies, as well as certain prescribed Ministries and agencies.
The Municipal Planner will prepare a report for the Public Meeting with a recommendation for Council to approve or refuse the Zoning By-law Amendment. If Council adopts the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment, a notice of passing will be circulated in accordance with the Planning Act. A 20-day appeal period is provided for, once notice of Adoption of the By-law has been given. If no appeals are received by the end of the appeal period, the amendment is in full force and effect.
A minor variance is a way of permitting a minor change to a property's zoning in order to allow the land to be used in a way which does not comply exactly with the requirements of the Zoning By-law. It is often triggered by circumstances which are peculiar to the property. Examples of minor variances include relief from certain parking space requirements, building setbacks, and height restrictions.
HOW TO APPLY
If you think you might need a minor variance, you should contact the Municipality's Planning Department at
If it is determined that a Minor Variance is the only means available for accomplishing your development, then you should submit the appropriate application form complete with all required supporting documents, along with the appropriate fee to be discussed during your initial consultations.
However, a Minor Variance is only appropriate if the variation to the Zoning provision is small. In cases where the proposed variation is larger, a Zoning By-law Amendment may be required instead. Since the variance may be "minor" in some situations and "major" in others, each case must be evaluated on its own merits.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Applications for minor variances are made to the Municipality's Committee of Adjustment. Once a complete application has been filed and the fees paid, a date for a Committee Hearing will be set and Notice of Hearing will be circulated to the surrounding property owners within 60 metres of the property to which the application applies, as well as other prescribed Ministries and agencies. The Notice must be sent out at least 10 days prior to the date of the Committee Hearing. Also a sign will be installed on the property briefly describing the proposal.
The Municipal planner will prepare a report for the Committee Hearing with a recommendation to either approve or refuse the Minor Variance application. You may appear at the Committee Hearing to present your views. If the Committee of Adjustment approves the proposed variance, it will pass its Decision, which may have specific conditions of approval attached to it. The Decision will be circulated as prescribed notifying the public of the Committee's decision. A 20-day appeal period is provided for, once Notice of Committee's Decision has been given. If no appeals are received by the end of the appeal period, the variance will come into full force and effect.
Site Plan Control approval is a planning tool to approve the layout of certain types of development. It is concerned with such aspects as building location, drainage, parking, access to the site, and landscaping. The Municipality's Director of Planning and Development has been granted "Delegated Authority" to approve all Site Plan Control applications.
Site Plan Control approval is normally required for commercial and industrial developments, for certain residential developments, for the establishment of parking lots, and for development in certain zones, such as the floodplain.
HOW TO APPLY
In order to obtain Site Plan approval, you should discuss your proposal with a planner in the Municipality's Planning Department. It may also be beneficial to refer your proposal to the Municipality's Development Review Team as part of the pre-consultation process. Contact
To apply for Site Plan Control, you should submit the appropriate application form complete with all required supporting documents, along with the appropriate fees which will be discussed during initial consultations with a planner. In support of the application, you may need copies of a recent plan of survey, a detailed site plan and other drawings and/or studies. Submission requirements are outlined on the application form or in the pre-consultation letter you may have received as part of the Development Review process.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Your application and plans will be circulated to Municipal Departments and technical agencies, for their review and comment. Once all comments have been received and the Site Plan has been approved, Municipal staff will prepare a Site Plan Control Agreement, which will be executed with the Municipality. No building permit can be issued until the Agreement has been executed and financial securities required have been provided to the municipality, if applicable. The Agreement is generally registered on title and is binding on subsequent owners of the property.
North Grenville's Official Plan is the municipality's official policy statement of the proposed future development of the community, emphasizing land use. No development can take place that does not conform to the Official Plan. If you want to develop land in a way which is not in conformity with the Plan, for example, if you propose to construct a commercial project on land that is currently designated for residential purposes in the Official Plan, then you would have to apply for and obtain an Official Plan Amendment before any development applications could be approved.
Because an Official Plan is an important document in the planning process, any Amendment to it would usually involve numerous planning studies and public meetings.
HOW TO APPLY
If you believe you may need an Official Plan Amendment in order to carry out your proposed development, you should first contact a planner in the Municipality's Planning Department to determine if an amendment is in fact needed, or if the proposed development is appropriate for the site, or if there is another way in which the development could be accomplished. It may also be beneficial to refer your proposal to the Municipality's Development Review Team as part of the pre-consultation process. Contact
If it is determined that an amendment to the Official Plan is the only means available for accomplishing your development, then you should submit the appropriate application form complete with all required supporting documents, along with the appropriate fee to be discussed during consultation.
One of the most frequent means of subdividing land is by consent to sever or severance. Anyone interested in obtaining a severance should pre-consult with planning staff as any severance must align with Provincial planning policies, the Official Plan, the Zoning By-Law and other applicable law. Typically, a pre-consultation takes two weeks to a month to complete and will provide an indication whether a severance application would comply with relevant planning policies.
A "Consent to Sever" (Severance) is required if you want to sell or mortgage a portion of your land or enter into an agreement or lease for a period of 21 years or more. There are also other circumstances in which a Consent is required; your lawyer can help you to determine if a Consent is necessary. Sometimes another form of land division approval such as Subdivision or Part-lot Control By-law may be more appropriate.
Information on the severance process, including a process flow chart is available through the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville under their Forms and Documents link.
HOW TO APPLY
An application for a Consent can be made to the United Counties of Leeds & Grenville Consent Granting Authority in Brockville who are the Approval Authority. You will be required to complete an application form for the parcel you wish to sever, and submit it with a lot plan indicating the property you own and the lot you intend to sever, along with the appropriate fee (see Fee Schedule). For further information contact
However, applicants are advised to pre-consult with the Municipality of North Grenville prior to filing a formal application with the United Counties' Consent Granting Authority by contacting
Completed applications and all required supporting information should be filed with:
Secretary-Treasurer
Consent Granting Authority
United Counties of Leeds & Grenville
25 Central Avenue West, Suite 100
Brockville, ON
K6V 4N6
Phone: 613-342-3840 (x 2414)
Fax: 613-432-3069
At the time of filing, the application fee for the United Counties must be paid. In addition, some review agencies also charge Review Fees which must be paid at the same time. North Grenville's Consent Review Fee can be found on their Fee Schedule. Other agencies which charge Consent Review Fees include:
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority for properties with the Rideau River watershed
South Nation Conservation Authority for properties with the South Nation River watershed
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The Consent Granting Authority staff will circulate a Notice of your application to the surrounding property owners within 60 metres of the property to which the application applies, as well as other departments and agencies. You will be required to post a sign on your property advising of the Consent Application.
A Public Hearing of the Consent Granting Authority will be held, at which time you will be able to make an oral presentation. The decision of the Authority is subject to a 20-day appeal period. Approval may also be subject to certain conditions which must be fulfilled within a 2 year time period. Through the pre-consultation process staff will identify the potential conditions that may be required in relation to your application.
Please be advised that obtaining a severance is a relatively long and somewhat costly process. There are many conditions which can be required of applicants who sever, including but not limited to surveying costs, cash-in-lieu of parkland and zoning amendment fees. Accordingly, if a severance is conditionally granted, applicants have up to two years from the last day of appeal to satisfy the conditions.
The creation of a number of lots requires approval through a plan of subdivision under the Planning Act.
The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville reviews applications for a plan of subdivision against the policies of the Official Plan and planning matters including: design of lots and roads; sewer and water services (piped or private); service by utilities; drainage and storm water management; preservation and protection of natural features and hazard lands; and requirements for County and municipal roads.
The draft plan of subdivision will be circulated to agencies including the local Municipality, School Board, Conservation Authority, utility companies, and County Departments (properties on a County Road). The draft plan may be approved with conditions that must be met before the subdivision is registered.
The draft approval conditions normally require the applicant to enter into a subdivision agreement with the local municipality. The applicant must consult with the both the County and local municipality during this process.
For more information on this process, visit the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.
Completed applications and all required supporting information should be filed with:
The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville
Public Works Division
Planning Services and Consent Granting Authority
25 Central Ave. W., Suite 100
Brockville, ON K6V 4N6
Tel: 613-342-3840 ext. 2414 / 1-800-770-2170
Fax: 613-342-3069
Email:
It is recommended that you contact
North Grenville’s Design Standards for Design, Approval, and Construction are used to ensure that all new developments and construction projects within the Municipality conform to a similar standard, guaranteeing effective future maintenance and quality of services. These guidelines are to be used in conjunction with industry-standard practices and appropriate provincial and federal guidelines and standards for design and construction (e.g. OPSS, OPSD, MTO, TAC, MECP, OBC).
As the Municipality evolves and new products and practices become available, it is necessary to update the Design Standards to ensure we can continue to best provide for our residents and community stakeholders. To avoid completing regular revisions or full version updates on the document, Technical Bulletins will be used to update and add standards, procedures, and approved products from the Design Standards.
How to stay up to date
All the published Technical Bulletins can be found at the following link. Developers should check both the linked Design Standards document and this page to ensure that they are using the full approved design standards for the Municipality. When the North Grenville’s Design Standards document undergoes a full review, the bulletins are incorporated into the updated Standards document.
