Brant eyes faster planning process

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

The County of Brant is exploring a new land-use planning framework that could significantly change how development applications are reviewed and approved.

At its October 14 meeting, council received a presentation from Dillon Consulting on the potential introduction of a Community Planning Permit System (CPPS), a tool designed to combine zoning bylaw amendments, site-plan approvals and minor variances into a single, streamlined process

If adopted, the county-wide system would replace Brant’s current zoning bylaw and establish clear, measurable development standards aimed at improving efficiency and predictability for applicants while aligning with the county’s A Simply Grand Plan Official Plan (2023).

Policy Planning Manager Brandon Kortleve said the CPPS could cut approval timelines from more than 160 days to 45 days by replacing multiple applications with a single permit. The system also reinstates mandatory pre-consultation which was recently removed under provincial Bill 185. It allows municipalities to secure community benefits such as affordable housing or green infrastructure in exchange for additional building height or density.

Under the proposed model, routine applications that meet county standards would be handled administratively by planning staff, while larger or more complex proposals would still require council approval.

“This initiative is about modernizing the process and improving clarity for residents, developers and council,” Kortleve said. It’s an opportunity to build a made-in-Brant solution that balances efficiency with transparency he noted.

Several councillors raised concerns about how the new framework might affect public participation.

During her presentation, consultant Chun Chu, from Dillon Consulting, noted that while the CPPS offers efficiencies, it is not a perfect tool. She cautioned that the system carries potential risks including reduced opportunity for public input on individual applications, difficulty understanding a new framework, and concerns over whether community benefits would be fairly distributed across different areas. Chu also highlighted that third-party appeals would not be permitted under the CPPS. From an internal standpoint, she said the planning division would face significant staff-training requirements, possible concerns about consistency under delegated approvals, and the need for new systems to track outcomes and financial impacts.

Councillor John Bell said he supports clearer rules but questioned whether the public would still have meaningful opportunities to comment on individual developments. “I’m a little troubled by what I see on page 6 of your report. The words ‘public input’ isn’t featured at all. I also heard there is a lack of third-party appeal. It seems to me like you are trying to push the boundary toward the person making the application whether it be a person or developer.”

Kortleve assured council that while the provincial model does not require consultation on individual permits, Brant staff plan to “front-end” engagement beyond minimum provincial standards by seeking feedback during the bylaw development phase.

Councillor Brian Coleman voiced skepticism about adopting a system that only a handful of Ontario municipalities — including Guelph, Huntsville and Innisfil — have implemented. “Only seven municipalities out of over 400 have bought into this, and that really bothers me,” he said.

Councillor John Peirce questioned the feasibility of meeting the 45-day turnaround time, while Councillor David Miller asked about costs to implement the new system. Kortleve said no funding has yet been requested, but budget allocations for 2026 would include studies on community-benefit valuations, citing affordable-housing incentives as an example.

According to the staff report, Brant’s current zoning bylaw received its last comprehensive updated in 2016 and is rooted in pre-amalgamation standards and struggles to keep pace with provincial legislation and modern planning trends.

The proposed CPPS would replace those rules with a performance-based framework that better supports housing diversity, climate resilience and protection of agricultural and employment lands. It would also introduce “precincts”, broader land-use categories that consolidate multiple zones, and allow flexible “discretionary uses” in residential areas if certain conditions are met.

Public engagement began in September through the county’s EngageBrant portal, with a draft bylaw and Official Plan amendment expected to be released early next year. Following public consultation, the finalized CPPS could be presented for adoption by mid-2026.

Council ultimately voted to endorse the foundational assumptions and direct staff to draft the bylaw and Official Plan amendment, despite a failed motion from Councillor Bell to defer the matter for more information.

“I would like to see two or three things that have come through council and how they would look differently if they had gone through the new process,” said Bell, who wanted more convincing that the comprehensive change to planning processes would be beneficial.  Only Bell and Peirce voted against the recommendation to move forward with full endorsement of the CPPS at this time or to draft a CPP bylaw and Official Plan amendment.