Official Plan Amendment | Town of Huntsville

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About the Official Plan Amendment
Application process
Fees

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About the Official Plan Amendment

An Official Plan Amendment (OPA) is a request to make changes to the use of a property in a way that is not laid out by the Official Plan.

If you are requesting to make changes to use a property in a way that is not laid out by the Official Plan, then you will need to submit an Official Plan Amendment.

Application process

Step 1: Gather required documentation

It is recommended that you engage a private planner to assist in the preparation of the required documentation.

Step 2: Pre-consultation

Complete the pre-consultation form through Cloudpermit. A fee of $285 is paid online after completing the form.
Pre-consultation with the Town to review development proposal.
Town will confirm requirements for a severance and/or other application requirements are identified.

Step 3: Application submission

Application must be submitted with all required studies, plans, etc. Only once all required documentation is received will the application be reviewed and a decision will be made within 120 business days.

Required documentation

Record of pre-consultation
Commissioned signatures of owner and/or agent
Parcel Registry (or Title Abstract) from Land Registry office dated within 14 business days of the submission of application
Written description (in a separate attachment) summarizing proposal and planning justification
Any requests made during pre-consultation
A proposed strategy for consulting with the public with respect to the request
Supplemental information to support the criteria in Part F: Section 1.2.3 of the Huntsville Official Plan, may be requested upon further review of the application
Applicable drawings - must be to scale and include:
- Boundaries and dimensions of the lands
- Location, size, and type of all existing and proposed buildings and structures on the land, indicating their distance from the front lot line, rear lot line, and side lot lines
- The approximate location of all natural and artificial features (buildings, roads, watercourses, drainage ditches, wooded areas, etc.) that are located on the subject land and on land adjacent to it, and that may affect the application
- The current uses of land that is adjacent to the subject land
- The location, width, and name of any roads within or abutting the subject, land indicating whether it is an unopened road allowance, a public travelled road, a private road or a right-of-way
- If access to the subject land will be by water only, the location of the parking and boat docking facilities to be used
- The location and nature of any easement affecting the land

Application is then circulated to commenting agencies and departments.
Once all comments are received, application is deemed complete.
Public notification is sent out, if required.

Step 4: Application review

Once an application has been deemed complete by Planning Staff, it will take typically 9-12 weeks for the submission to be reviewed. Staff will prepare recommendations to Town Council. During the approval process, Official Plan Amendment applications are decided upon by the Planning Council in a public hearing. If no decision has been made within 120 business days, the applicant can appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Step 5: Decision

Upon review of the Official Plan Amendment application, Town Council may:

Approve the application, which will then be sent to the District of Muskoka for final approval. The District of Muskoka will then give a notice of approval and there will be a 20 business day appeal period for applicant and key parties. If there are no appeals, then the amendment will be adopted.
Refuse the application and no amendment is issued.

Step 6: Appeal period

There will be an appeal period of 20 business days by the applicant and key parties following a decision. If no appeals are received, Staff will issue a formal communication.

2025

Fees

Pre-consultation fee: $292.00

Official Plan Amendment application fees:

One lot or a minor policy: $2,250.00
More than one lot or a major policy: $5,100.00
Complex – An application that requires the review of 5 or more supporting technical reports.

Payment can be made over the phone (credit card only; Visa and Mastercard) or in person (credit card, debit, or cheque). Payment of fees is required to consider an application complete and delay in payment may result in a delay to the next steps. Fees are updated on an annual basis.