Community Planning Permit System

A Community Planning Permit System (CPPS) is a tool that municipalities, like Barrie, can use to streamline and improve the development approval process.

It combines zoning, site plan, minor variances under a single application and efficient approval process. This reduces the review and approval timelines to 45 days. Once a permit is issued, landowners can proceed directly to a building permit application, bypassing the traditional multi-step process.

A CPPS is implemented through a CPPS By-law which sets rules for the area (like a regular zoning by-law). Rules include:

• Boundaries of the area covered by the CPPS
• Permitted uses and standards – things like what kinds of buildings and activities (land uses) are allowed on a property. It includes things like conditions for approval, how tall buildings can be, how far they must be from the street (setback), and how dense the development can be.
• Community benefits – for example, taller buildings and greater density could be allowed when they deliver benefits like affordable housing, public art, or open spaces.

A CPPS also includes some extra features:

• Conditional uses: Some activities or buildings are allowed only if specific conditions are met.
• Exemptions: Some classes of development or activities don’t need a development permit but still need a building permit.

A CPPS also allows for flexibility in the rules. The City can approve minor changes to some requirements. This includes slightly adjusting a setback or height, as long as it stays within the limits in the CPPS.

Why is the City considering a CPPS?

There are many reasons to consider a Community Planning Permit System in Barrie, including:

• Certainty and transparency: The community helps shape the CPPS vision, priorities, and standards upfront. The CPPS shows the community the kinds of development that are allowed and where. The process is predictable.
• Support Barrie's housing and growth: The CPPS helps plan for long-term growth in these key areas. It will create more housing in the right places. That means livable, accessible homes near transit and other amenities.
• Community character and urban design: New developments fit into the community by following design standards from the CPP By-law. The CPPS can include local design standards that honours neighborhood character and the community's values.
• Community benefits: The City can require specific conditions to be met when approving an application. The City can allow taller buildings in some areas. Builders must add features like affordable housing, transit shelters, open spaces, and public art, as the City specifies.
• Streamlined process: The CPPS simplifies development approvals. A CPPS provides new opportunities for collaboration with the development industry to effectively deliver on Barrie's housing pledge.