Plan of Subdivision Approval Process

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Plan of Subdivision Approval Process

Draft Plan of Subdivision Application

When a landowner in the City of Vaughan propose to divide a parcel of land into more than 3 separate parcels, the Planning Act requires that the Owner submit a Draft Plan of Subdivision Application. Subdivision approval ensures that:

the land is suitable for the proposed new use;
the proposal conforms to the Official Plan and Provincial, Regional and City policies; and,
the existing and future residents of the community are protected from developments which are inappropriate or may place an undue strain on community services, facilities or finances.

The City of Vaughan must approve a Draft Plan of Subdivision for the lands.

If a proposal involves the creation of three new lots or fewer, having frontage on an improved road allowance, the landowner may submit an Application for Consent through Vaughan’s Committee of Adjustment, in the Office of the City Clerk.

Draft Plan of Subdivision Application Process

Pre-Application Consultation

Prior to submitting a Draft Plan of Subdivision Application, the Owner and/or Agent must arrange a Pre-Application Consultation meeting with the Development Planning Department. The purpose of this meeting is for the Owner and/or Agent to present a proposal and for City Staff to identify, on a preliminary basis only, the required information for a complete submission of the Draft Plan of Subdivision Application.

Pre-Application Consultation is helpful to both the applicant and the City as it ensures applications are processed efficiently and establishes the requirements for the submission of a complete application.

Submitting An Application

When submitting a Draft Plan of Subdivision Application for approval, a fee is required in accordance with the applicable Tariff of Fees for Planning Applications By-law.

The Planner assigned to the file will send an acknowledgment letter to the Owner advising of the file number, and setting out any additional requirements to be completed by the landowner. In addition, the City is required to send a "Notice of Complete Application" within 30 days of receipt of the application, if all the application requirements are satisfied. If all the application requirements are not satisfied, a "Notice of Incomplete Application" will be sent to the applicant and processing of the application will not commence until the application requirements are fully satisfied. The application will be circulated to all internal departments and external agencies as affected.

A notification sign(s) must be installed on the property within 14 days of submitting the application and removed within seven days of Vaughan Council having dealt with the application in accordance with City's Notice Sign Procedures and Protocols.

A typical Draft Plan of Subdivision Application requires approximately six to 10 months to complete, depending on complexity.

Public Hearing

Upon receipt of a complete Draft Plan of Subdivision Application, a Public Hearing will be scheduled. A notice of the Public Hearing will be circulated by the City to all land owners within a minimum 150 metres of the subject property and at least a minimum of 20 days before the Public Hearing. The Owner, or his/her Agent, must attend this meeting to make a brief presentation of the proposal before Vaughan Council, and to answer any questions from Vaughan Council or the public.

Committee of the Whole

After the Public Hearing, typically a minimum of eight weeks is required to assess the application, and to receive comments and conditions from circulated parties. The Development Planning Department will prepare a technical report with a recommendation to the Committee of the Whole. The recommendation of the Committee of the Whole is subsequently forwarded to the following City of Vaughan Council meeting for approval.

20-Day Appeal

After Council's approval, a "Notice of Decision" is mailed by the Office of the City Clerk. This initiates a 20-day appeal period, within which anyone can appeal the Draft Plan of Subdivision approval to the Ontario Municipal Board. Once this period expires, if no appeals have been received, a final "Notice of Decision" is mailed and the Plan of Subdivision is deemed to be draft approved.

If the application is refused, the Owner may appeal Vaughan Council's decision to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) within 20 days of the date of the "Notice of Decision" from the Office of the City Clerk being issued by the City.

Registration of Plan of Subdivision

After Draft Plan of Subdivision approval has been granted, the Owner must satisfy each of the conditions of a draft approval. When the Owner is ready to submit engineering drawings, the Vaughan Development Engineering and Infrastructure Planning Department will prepare a subdivision agreement, reflecting the conditions of draft approval, and other City requirements. This Agreement is executed by the Owner and the City and is registered on the title of the lands.

Once all City departments and external agencies that provided conditions have advised the City, in writing, that their requirements have been met, the City can grant final approval and the Plan of Subdivision can be registered.

An Application for Draft Plan of Subdivision approval can be obtained through the Development Planning Department or on the City website at the Planning Forms Centre. Information related to the Draft Plan of Subdivision Approval process can be obtained by visiting the Development Planning Department or by calling (905) 832-2281. Ask for the Planner assigned to the file or the community area.

Contact Information

Development Planning Department

Phone:
905-832-2281 ext. 8924

Email:
developmentplanning@vaughan.ca

Location:
Vaughan City Hall, Level 200
2141 Major Mackenzie Drive
Vaughan, ON L6A 1T1

Additional Resources

Related Services

Application for Draft Plan of Subdivision