CENTRE WELLINGTON – Centre Wellington Council has approved the next step in exploring a new planning tool that could streamline the development approval process in the township.
At Monday’s council meeting, Council approved moving forward with work on a potential Community Planning Permit System, or CPPS.
A CPPS can combine several planning approvals — including zoning amendments, minor variances and site plan approval — into a single application and review process. The Township says the system could provide greater clarity and certainty for applicants while allowing the municipality to establish planning rules and community objectives in advance.
Council endorsed what is being called Option 1, which will see staff issue a single request for proposals covering both phases of the project.
However, there will be a mandatory decision point for Council following the completion of the first phase. Before any work moves ahead into Phase 2, Council will review the findings and determine whether implementing a CPPS would be beneficial for Centre Wellington.
The project will also involve additional planning work, the hiring of a qualified consultant and opportunities for community input.
The approval does not mean a Community Planning Permit System has been adopted.
No CPPS is currently in place, and any proposed system would still need to go through the appropriate planning process and return to Council for further consideration before it could be implemented.
You can find the full township report here.
