|
Staff at the Niagara Escarpment Commission work to
make your experience with us satisfying. We know that you are proud
to live on the Escarpment -- an internationally recognized treasure!
We hope that this information helps you understand how your development
permit application or application for a plan amendment will be processed.
How long will your application take?
Very simple applications are usually completed in
six to eight weeks. If an application is complex, does not contain
complete information or is the subject of an appeal it can take
much longer. You can do a lot to shorten the time by making sure
that your information is complete and correct. If you have any
questions about your application, call us. Or, if you would
like more information on what types of development may or may
not require a permit, download the "Do
I Need a Niagara Escarpment Permit?" booklet.
The application process
A planner is assigned to handle your application.
Maps are prepared to show the location of your proposal. Agencies
such as your municipality, Health Unit, Ministry of Agriculture,
Conservation Authority, Ministry of Transportation, or others,
may have regulations in your area. Your application is circulated
to them.
When we get all comments, our staff write a report
for the Commission. Call the planner for an update on the progress
of your application. The planner can also arrange a date for your
application to be on the Commission’s agenda.
The Commission planner evaluates your application
to see if it complies with the policies of the Niagara Escarpment
Plan. The planner will write a report recommending approval:
- if
your proposal is a "permitted use";
- if
it meets the development criteria of the Plan; and,
- if
other agencies (such as those above) are satisfied.
There will be conditions attached. Depending on
the complexity of your application, conditions may be minimal
or lengthy.
The planner will write a report recommending refusal:
-
if your proposal is not permitted by the Plan;
- if
it contravenes the local, regional or county Official Plan;
or,
- if
there is a major issue raised by an agency that cannot be resolved.
A
copy of the staff report will be available for you.
More
than 90% of development permit applications are approved.
The Commission
The Niagara Escarpment Commission consists of 17
members including the chairperson. Commissioners may accept
or reject a staff recommendation or make a different recommendation.
Commissioners receive planning reports several days before their
meeting. (On occasion, to speed customer service, staff will complete
a report after the Commissioners receive their agendas. There
is a procedure to familiarize the Commission with such items before
they are dealt with at the meeting.)
Commission
meetings are generally held every month, on a Thursday, beginning
at 10:00 a.m.. Anyone may attend through your NEC planner. You
will be given an approximate time your item will be dealt with.
Most applications recommended for approval are approved
by the Commission. It is usually not necessary to attend a Commission
meeting.
If the staff recommendation on your application
is refusal, your best approach is to briefly point out information
you feel is incomplete or incorrect in the staff report, or provide
additional information.
Photos are welcome but written material must be
given to the Commission planner or the Chair’s secretary by the
Thursday prior to the meeting.
Download a
Niagara Escarpment Permit Application Form
The Permit Application Form is available in Adobe
Acrobat format to ensure that it is accessible to users with either
PCs or Macintosh systems. For your convenience, we have also included
the application in Microsoft Word format.
 Download
Adobe Reader to open and view documents.
Open now in a new window:
|
|
PDF format -- view in Adobe
Reader. |
|
|
Microsoft Word
format. |
How to Contact Development Permit Staff
To contact development permit staff, visit our Contact
our Planners page. For general inquires, please email permits@escarpment.org.
|
