Planning Act (Ontario)
The Planning Act is the provincial legislation that governs how municipalities in Ontario adopt Official Plans, amend zoning, and evaluate development applications in the public interest.
Key Points
- Authorizes municipalities to create and amend Official Plans and Zoning By-laws.
- Sets out the process for Official Plan Amendments (OPA) and Zoning By-law Amendments (ZBLA).
- Requires planning decisions to be consistent with provincial policy statements.
- Establishes that planning decisions are public decisions made under statutory authority.
Full Analysis
What It Does
The Planning Act authorizes Ontario municipalities to create and amend Official Plans and Zoning By-laws. It sets out the formal process for Official Plan Amendments (OPA) and Zoning By-law Amendments (ZBLA), and requires that all planning decisions be consistent with provincial policy statements.
Why It Matters Here
The 340 Parkdale application is requesting both an OPA and a ZBLA. Any increase in height or density must be evaluated under this Act. It establishes that planning decisions are public decisions made under statutory authority — not private negotiations.
Key principle: Planning decisions must reflect the public interest and conform to adopted policy.