Community Planning Permit System

The Town of Innisfil is undertaking a comprehensive study of its Zoning By-law and Our Shore Community Planning Permit System. The intent is to better implement the placemaking vision of the Our Place Official Plan and replace the Zoning By-law with a new town-wide Community Planning Permit System (CPPS). It is anticipated that the new CPPS will be in place for priority areas 1a and 1b by late 2024. Implementation of the CPPS By-law for the subsequent priority areas will occur thereafter.

Phase 1 Completion Update

Council approved the Phase 1: Background Study and Strategic Directions on June 28, 2023 through report DSR-090-23. If you missed the Council meeting, you can watch the recording on the Town's YouTube channel.

The Council endorsed the phased implementation of Town-wide CPPS By-law based on the following priority areas:

• Priority Area 1a: Update Our Shore CPPS
• Priority Area 1b: Alcona Primary Settlement Area
• Priority Area 2: All other Urban Settlement Areas of the Town
• Priority Area 3: Village and Hamlet Settlement Areas
• Priority Area 4: Future settlement areas/expansion areas
• Priority Area 5: Remaining Town

Next Steps

Following the Council directions on Phase 1 recommendations, Phase 2 and 3 of the project will commence simultaneously in July 2023.

• Phase 2: Prepare Placemaking and Sustainable Design Guidelines
• Phase 3: Engagement and Draft Official Plan Amendment, Community Planning Permit System By-law, and Implementation Guidelines

The Placemaking & Sustainable Design Guidelines and the Draft CPPS by-law will be brought back to Council for consideration in future. There will be further opportunities for public consultation and stakeholder input as major milestones are reached in the future life of the project.

Streamlining the permitting process

We can use a Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) to make development approval processes more streamlined and efficient. It is also a tool that will allow us to better address community needs. The CPPS allows zoning adjustments, minor variances, and detailed site plan applications to be processed as one application and approval process, instead of two or three separate processes.

This system provides:

• An approvals system to create certainty and transparency for the community, landowners and developers;
• More timely approvals for applications that meet standards and guidelines;
• Outcomes that more closely align with the vision of the Our Place Official Plan; and
• A tool to help get housing to the market quicker.

You can find more information on the benefits of a Community Planning Permit System on the Government of Ontario's website.

Working with Consulting Planners

The Town of Innisfil is working with SGL Planning and Dillon Consulting on this project. Our partners are writing technical reports, conducting studies, and assisting with public consultation throughout the process, as well as conducting sessions with council and two specialized groups: the Community Advisory Group and the Technical Advisory Committee. Through the process, the consulting firms will provide the Town of Innisfil with a series of studies that will examine important considerations for a CPPS in the Town of Innisfil.

Community Advisory Group

To support this project, we've started a Community Advisory Group (CAG) to provide advice to the project team on a range of matters, guide the direction of studies, and bring forward the perspectives of several community organizations and stakeholders. The CAG includes approximately 25 members, including:

• Residents of Innisfil;
• Representatives from community organizations;
• Local professionals with experience in planning, building or related professions; and
• Members of the development community

Recruitment for the CAG closed in August 2022. At this time, we are not seeking further members.

Technical Advisory Committee

The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is a group of staff members from the Town of Innisfil that are providing feedback and recommendations to the technical standards and implementation of the CPPS by-law by working with our consultants.

Past Engagement

Thanks to those who joined us for a public information session on May 25, 2023. The virtual meeting invited community members to learn about the CPPS tool, how it has been used to date, and why the Town is looking to expand the tool to new geographies. If you missed the presentation, you can watch the recording on the Town's YouTube channel. Please take our survey below to provide your feedback.

Staying Informed

This project is heading towards Phase 2 for preparation of Placemaking and Sustainable Design Guidelines and we will provide regular updates. Stay tuned for upcoming open houses, public meeting notices, and links to materials. For information, please subscribe to this page or contact a member of the Project Team.