The Citizen, 2019-06-13, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019. PAGE 19.
North Huron Council
vouches for LPAT
Despite some perceived
imperfections with the system,
North Huron Council wants the
Local Planning Appeal Tribunal
(LPAT) to remain in place.
The LPAT was implemented last
year to take over the responsibilities
of the Ontario Municipal Board
(OMB) in dealing with planning
appeals.
Despite the fact that North Huron
hasn’t had an official appeal in
years, and has had no appeals
through the LPAT system, council
felt it was a necessary process.
North Huron discussed the issue
as a result of several municipalities –
Grimsby, Halton Hills and Grey
County – seeking support in their
opposition of Bill 108 which would
reinstate the OMB process.
“The LPAT keeps things local,”
Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip said.
“There’s more discussion after an
appeal. With the OMB, there is no
option, no discussion. It takes local
planning decisions out of the
municipality.”
Seip said that Grimsby, Halton
Hills and Grey County, as well as
other municipalities against the
move, are in favour of keeping those
planning appeals local instead of in
Toronto.
“Whether we have had an appeal
or not, the question is do we support
local decisions or decisions being
made in Toronto?” Seip asked.
“That’s what’s going to happen if we
go back to the OMB. An appeal is
lodged and it goes to Toronto and we
have no control over timelines. I
think the local tribunal gives us an
option to have a discussion,
mediation, instead of the issue being
taken away.”
Councillor Chris Palmer was able
to speak to the LPAT from
experience, however, and said that
the system isn’t perfect.
“The LPAT was sold as a more
friendly way of dealing with the
issues,” he said. “The OMB was a
scary spot that just wanted money
from an applicant.”
He said, in his opinion, the LPAT
is still a better system. However,
after being through the process when
he and his neighbours filed an
appeal against Morris-Turnberry
Council, he felt it is still far from
what it needs to be.
“We made a huge application,
filling out all the reasons the
municipality screwed up,” he said.
“We got shut down as fast as
possible. As ratepayers, we felt this
wasn’t all that good. They didn’t
even talk to us. It’s supposed to be
more mediation, but it wasn’t.
“It’s still better than the OMB,” he
said. “It costs $300, which is nothing
compared to the OMB, which is
expensive.”
He said he was told, when he filed
his LPAT complaint, that the last
time the municipality had dealt with
the OMB it cost between $50,000
and $60,000.
“No one wants that,” he said. “I'm
disappointed that the LPAT is not
perfect, but it was better for
individuals and ratepayers and it’s
better for the municipality.”
Council approved a motion
supporting the municipalities’
standing against Bill 108.
A handsome profit
Over 50 cyclists gathered at Blyth Lions Park after a 10-stop charity ride on Saturday. Mike
Leckie, second from right, was the winner of an auction that netted $350. He bought a special
Leadbury bat, painted in Cowbell colours and signed by the company’s brewers and batmaker
Mitchell Godkin, left, of Leadbury. Cowbell and Leadbury co-donated the bat for the event. The
pair are seen here with ride organizers Shawn Loughlin, second from left, and Jeff Peters,
right. The event would go on to raise thousands for the MS Society of Canada. (Courtesy photo)
By Denny Scott
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