Photo by B. Shakyaver
Bluewater Council reviewed proposed changes to the current Planning Application Fees made by the County during last week’s (May 6th) Council meeting. This proposal aims to cover the costs incurred by both the local municipalities and the County for processing planning applications.
In 1988, the county took control of planning to try and save money by having just one planner. Since then, things have shifted. Bluewater has gone from having one person assisting the planner to now having a full-time staff member. Things have become more complex with more paperwork involved. Currently, there are 250 planning applications across Huron County, and there are 17 planners working at the county level.
Mayor Paul Klopp raised concerns about the practical implications of fee increases, particularly for minor variances. He stressed the need for transparency in cost recovery and cautioned against relying solely on Consumer Price Index adjustments.
The Working Group responsible for this review has examined fees from comparator municipalities and considered factors such as increased staff time and complexity of applications. Based on their analysis, they have recommended several changes to the 2024 Planning Fees Schedule. These changes include adjustments to fees for Plans of Subdivision/Condominium, Official Plan Amendments, Consents (Severances), Zoning By-law Amendments, Minor Variances, and other planning applications.
Historically, the fees have been reviewed every five years, with the last review occurring in 2021. At that time, a coordinated fee schedule was established across the County for the period of 2022 to 2026. However, recent changes, including legislative amendments to the Planning Act and the implementation of Cloudpermit, have necessitated a further review of the fees.
As discussions regarding the changes continued, Councilor Tyler Hessel advocated for a balance between cost recovery and taxpayer subsidies for development.
The proposed changes aim to ensure that planning application fees continue to be user-pay, covering the costs incurred by the municipalities and the County. Mayor Klopp had one final statement before discussions wrapped up.
The finalized Fee Schedule is expected to come into effect on July 1st, 2024, following review and adoption by all municipalities and County Council.
Written by: K. Milhomens
