Pre-Consultation
A pre-consultation meeting is required before submitting a planning approval application for Multiple Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional developments. This allows you to explain the proposal and Town staff can guide you through the process, provide preliminary comments about the viability of your proposal and advise you on what plans and studies are required to support an application. At the pre-consultation meeting, a checklist will be provided setting out the submission requirements for a complete application.
We would like you to retain the services of a professional architect, planner or engineer to prepare your plans and we also encourage you to talk to adjacent property owners prior to the application process in order to answer questions and address any concerns your neighbours may have.
A complete Pre-Consultation Application Guide and the Pre-Consultation Schedule can be found in the Planning Application Forms and Fees section of our webpage.
Please feel free to contact the Planning Department by phone 705-687-3412 with questions or to make an appointment.
Application Forms
Consents
Consents and Land Severances are approved by the Committee of Adjustment.
Consent applications are required to create a new lot, right-of-way, easement or any change to existing property boundaries (lot additions). Consent applications are also required if a landowner wants to sell, mortgage, charge or enter into any agreement (over 21 years) for a portion of their land.
If several lots are being created, a Subdivision or Condominium application may be more appropriate. The District Muskoka is the approval authority for Plans of Subdivision and Condominium. For more information please visit the District of Muskoka Plans of Subdivision and Condominium Descriptions page.
Deeming By-law
A Deeming By-law application is applied for in order to allow for two or more neighbouring lots on a registered plan of subdivision to merge.
This is normally beneficial when separate lots are being used as one property. Adding the lots together would allow for development or further development of the property. Deeming by-laws require Council approval. Once the by-law is approved and registered, the lots may be sold as one parcel of land.
As per Section 50(4) of the Planning Act, in order to deem lots, the plan of subdivision must have been registered not less than 8 years prior to the application for a deeming by-law.
Licence of Occupation
Minor Variance
A minor variance allows for a minor change from the requirements of a zoning by-law. For example, you may want to construct a building on your property but the minimum setbacks, lot coverage or height cannot be met.
A minor variance does not change the zoning of a property. It will only allow for minor relief from specific requirements of the by-law in order to obtain a building permit (ex. rear yard setback for a shed).
The Committee of Adjustment is the approval body for Minor Variances in the Town of Gravenhurst. As part of their review, the Committee must be satisfied that the minor variance will meet the following tests as outlined Under Section 45(1) of the Planning Act:
To approve any Minor Variance, the Committee of Adjustment must be satisfied that:
- The proposal is appropriate for the development of the land and/or building.
- The general intent and purpose of the Town's Zoning By-law is maintained.
- The general intent and purpose of the Town's Official Plan is maintained.
- The variance requested is minor in nature.
In order for the Committee to consider approval, the minor variance application must meet all of the tests. Any proposal not considered "minor" must proceed through the Zoning By-law Amendment process, which is considered by Council.
Formal appeals to Committee's decision can be submitted to the Town within 20 days of the date of decision. The appeal is then forwarded to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT)
In order to ensure timely processing of an application, please contact the Planning Division for a pre-consultation meeting. To support your application, you may be asked for additional information such as a planning justification report. All applications must be completed in full prior to acceptance.
Minor Variance Application form
For general information on minor variances and zoning by-laws in Ontario, please visit the following websites:
Official Plan Amendment
Occasionally, it is necessary to amend the policies and/or designations contained in the Official Plan in order to facilitate new development or redevelopment proposals. Opportunity for public consultation is required prior to Council adopting any new Official Plan Amendments.
Depending on the proposal, an application may also be required to amend the District of Muskoka Official Plan and the Town of Gravenhurst Comprehensive Zoning By-law 2010-04
Before applying for an Official Plan Amendment, please contact the Planning Department for information regarding specific requirements. To support your application, you may be asked for additional information such as a planning justification report. All applications must be completed in full prior to submission.
Official Plan Amendment Application are approved by Council at a public meeting. The decision to approve or deny an application is made after recommendations from Planning staff. Any person or agency may attend the public hearing. An appeal can be submitted to the municipality within 20 days of Council's decision. Only persons who have made oral submissions at the public meeting or written submissions to Council prior to the decision may appeal.
Official Plan Amendment Application form
For general information on Official Plans in Ontario, please visit the following websites:
Original Shore Road Allowance Closing
Shore Road Allowances are a 20 metre (66 foot) wide strip of land that separates a waterfront property from the water. These "Shore Road Allowances" unless title to a portion of the allowance has been purchased by an abutting property owner, it is owned by the municipality. This means that a property owner may not own to the water’s edge, and therefore may be limited in what they can and cannot do on it.
Provincial legislation allows municipalities to sell such road allowances, excepting any portions of the allowance which are covered by water. There's an application process to purchase the shoreline road allowance abutting their property and land owners who wish to do so should first speak with the Municipal Planner about their plans.
Part Lot Control
Section 50(5) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P13 does not allow a part of a lot on a registered plan of subdivision to be transferred without the approval of a municipality. Part-lot control prevents the further division of land in a registered plan, without further approvals.
Part Lot Control Exemption
A municipality may pass a by-law to remove part-lot control from all or any part of a registered plan of subdivision. This allows lands within a plan of subdivision to be further divided into individual parcels without the approval of the Committee of Adjustment.
This exemption is appropriate when the resulting changes will not affect the nature or character of the subdivision. This application is usually applied to semi-detached or townhouse developments in order to establish property boundaries. This is done after the construction of the buildings due to the difficulty of the builder constructing the common centre wall on the exact property line.
Another case where an exemption could be appropriate is in the case of an existing subdivision, where large blocks need to be further subdivided in order to accommodate the needs of purchasers or react to changing market conditions.
The District of Muskoka is the approval authority for Part Lot Control. For more information on Deeming By-laws, please visit the District of Muskoka Part Lot Control page.
Site Plan Agreement
A Site Plan Agreement establishes both design and technical aspects of development over and above the requirements set out in the zoning by-law. They can supplement zoning by providing more detailed site-specific requirements.
Site plan control provides an opportunity for the municipality to comment on the design and the development of a site. This includes the location, design and shape (massing) of buildings, the layout of parking and service areas, public access areas, landscaping, paving materials and street furniture (e.g., bicycle facilities, benches, lampposts, recycling containers).
The goal of Site Plans is to ensure that development projects contribute to attractive waterfronts, streetscapes and the character of the neighbourhood while protecting the environmental features of the property and surrounding land (e.g. wetlands, wild life habitats, water quality).
There are two components of a Site Plan Agreement: Site Plan schedule and a written agreement that is registered on title. The written agreement contains the terms of the agreement and in some cases includes financial guarantees to ensure compliance with the agreement.
There are two main types of Site Plan Agreements in the Town of Gravenhurst:
- Commercial Site Plan Agreements
- Residential Site Plan Agreements
Residential Site Plan Agreements
Residential Site Plan Agreements are required in the following situations:
- Additions or construction of Dwellings larger than 50.0 square metres
- Accessory Structures with a footprint of 30.0 metres or are within 60.0 metres of a water body
Site Plan Agreement - Residential Application
Commercial Site Plan Agreements
Commercial Site Plan Agreements are required for all commercial and industrial developments as well as residential developments containing more than 2 units.
Site Plan Agreement - Commercial Application
Site Plan Control By-law
Surplus Lands
Unopened Road Allowance Closing
Zoning By-law Amendment
If you have a development proposal that does not comply with the Zoning By-law, you may apply for a Zoning Amendment. All applications must conform with the Town of Gravenhurst Official Plan If not, an Official Plan Amendment would be necessary.
Before applying for a Zoning Amendment, please contact the Planning Department for information regarding specific requirements. To support your application, you may be asked for additional information such as a planning justification report or other required studies. All application must be completed in full prior to submission.
Zoning Amendment applications are approved by Council at a public meeting. The decision to approve or deny an application is made after consideration of recommendations from Planning staff and public comments. Formal objections to Councils decision can be submitted to the Ontario Municipal Board within 20 days of Council's decision. Only persons who have made oral submissions at the public meeting or written submissions to Council prior to the decision may appeal.
For general information on Zoning By-laws in Ontario, please visit the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing website.
Zoning Amendment Application Form
