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Planning applications to be posted on Township website

Posted Feb 4, 2010 By Craig Bakay

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EMC News Central Frontenac Township plans to use its website to inform residents when applications are made to the Planning Act (OP amendments, zoning amendments, severances and minor variances), with dates and locations of when and where those applications will be dealt with either by Council, Committee of Adjustment or the Ontario Municipal Board.

In a report to Council at the regular meeting last week in Sharbot Lake, CAO/Clerk John DuChene said Central Frontenac currently meets the minimum requirement for public notice under the Planning Act and will continue to do so. This would be an addition to the notification process.

"Generally, the municipality is obligated to either mail landowners within a prescribed distance from a property subject to an application (or) publish the notice in the local paper," DuChene said. (For example, all landowners within 60 metres of a property are notified by mail regarding an application for a minor variance.)

"Publishing in the would remove the obligation to mail notices (but) this second option is rarely used by the municipality for site specific applications because of the expense and a significant portion of the population is seasonal and adjacent landowners may not see a published notice in the paper and miss the opportunity to make comment/participate.

"This will make information more accessible and timely but it will also result in more inquiries. The additional work associated with providing this added service will be monitored."

"In the age of digital communication, our staff is stepping up," said Mayor Janet Gutowski. "Lake associations should be happy to see it.

"There may be staff implications down the road but it's definitely time."

DuChene said an email registry will be created whereby interested individuals and organizations may register with the municipality and staff will notify persons on the list when postings are made to the website.

"The request will have to be in writing and the onus placed on the subscriber to advise the municipality of a change in email address and/or unsubscribing," he said.

"We're still mailing to individuals so I support this supplement," said Coun. Frances Smith.