Development Planning Department
The Development Planning Department is responsible for the planning and general design of the City through the land use planning process.
Land use planning enables the City to establish goals and objectives for growth and development. This is accomplished by having regard for important social issues, together with environmental and economic considerations which provide for sustainable and healthy communities. Through this process, the interests and objectives of individual property owners are balanced with the greater interests and objectives of the City.
The Development Planning Department staff provides professional planning advice and information with respect to current land use issues and undertakes the review and processing of a variety of Development Applications, including Official Plan Amendments, Zoning By-law Amendments, Draft Plan of Subdivision, Draft Plan of Condominium, Part-Lot Control Exemption and Site Plans submitted to the City. Development Planning Department staff are available to provide assistance to the public and the development industry on planning-related issues, processing of development applications and the planning legislative process.
The Development Planning Department actively encourages citizen participation. Public comment is solicited on Development Applications as well as policy changes to the Official Plan. Citizen participation is encouraged as a vital part of the planning process in the City of Vaughan and is essential to good planning.
Development Applications
The Development Planning Department reviews and processes Development Applications submitted to the City of Vaughan by landowners seeking permission for a land use change and/or development proposal. This involves analysis and evaluation of the requested land use change and/or development proposal, leading to the preparation of reports for Public Meeting and Committee of the Whole Meetings which includes recommendations for consideration and action by City Council.
Committee of Adjustment
The Development Planning Department also reviews Minor Variances and Consent Applications circulated by the Office of the City Clerk, and provides comments, including recommendations, for consideration and action by the Committee of Adjustment.
GIS Mapping
The GIS Mapping Section of the Development Planning Department is responsible for coordinating, administering and overseeing the development, implementation, maintenance and operation of the Department's Geographic Information System (GIS); PLANit; and Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) including the distribution of spatial databases such as Official Plan, Zoning and parcel fabric; municipal addressing; and document management.
Urban Design and Cultural Heritage
Building a great city means bringing together people and coordinating the various components that create the everyday urban fabric. These components consist of the buildings in which we live and work, public spaces in which we gather, move and enjoy, infrastructure, and the environment. Our cultural heritage and cultural landscapes are a legacy that make our city a richer place to live and visit.
Urban Design and Cultural Heritage staff collaborate to build Vaughan as a great city for this generation and future generations, including a remarkable public realm, contributing built form, and sustainable development and infrastructure.
For more information about Heritage Preservation - the Protection of Built Heritage, Heritage Landscapes and Archaeology.