City of Sarnia Streamlines Process, Developers Ready to Roll.

From Tyler Kula, Sarnia Observer.

Builders and planners in Sarnia are eager to roll on some big projects, and the city has moved to get out of their way, just a step.

City council this week passed a resolution that simplifies the process somewhat for proponents seeking official plan amendments, like rezoning.

Would-be developers still have to do their homework, go through a public consultation process and pitch their cases to council, but now they don’t need council’s permission to go through that process, said Alan Shaw, Sarnia’s director of planning, building and bylaw enforcement.

“It’s more efficient for the staff and it’s more time efficient for developers,” he said.

The city had been under a two-year official-plan-amendment freeze since its latest plan came into effect last July 15.

Ontario’s Smart Growth for Our Communities Act puts the freeze in effect so municipalities don’t have to worry about amendment pressures while implementing a new plan, Shaw said.

Link to the rest here.

Thank you for reading.