HEDDY SOROUR

The Town of Carleton Place is going ahead with a development permit bylaw amendment that largely addresses the length of time a development permit remains valid without renewal.

The amendments to the bylaw were posted on the town’s website, and a public meeting was held in March, but the town received no feedback from the public or any agencies on the nature of the amendments.

In the past, development permits were only valid for one year, with a maximum six-month extension.

“From the date that council makes a decision to grant an application, the applicant will now have up to three years to clear all the conditions that we levy and execute the development agreement,” said Niki Dwyer, director of development services.

After three years, applicants may renew their permit for one year, up to a total of seven years from the date of initial approval.

“We did have a discussion with legal, and Diane [Smithson, chief administrative officer] and I agreed that it’s probably in the best interest of the town to have a limiting period at some point,” said Dwyer.

If a developer reaches the end of that seven-year period, they would be able to reapply for a development permit, and council would adjudicate its fit for the community.

Dwyer noted that if a development permit didn’t have a limiting period at all, and the official plan changed, or development charges changed, or social factors changed, a 15-year-old permit may no longer be a good fit for the community. Having a limiting period allows council to review an application that’s been in the works for a while.