Planning

The County of Lambton Planning Department provides advice, guidance and recommendations to Council, the Committee of Adjustment and staff members on all planning matters. The administration for all planning applications is managed by municipal office staff. View the Fee Schedule for all planning applications. All general planning inquiries should be directed to the Municipal Office or the County of Lambton Planning and Development Services Department.

Zoning Compliance letters – requests are to be made in writing together with a cheque payable to the County of Lambton in the amount of $70.00 and forwarded to:

County of Lambton
Planning and Development Services Department
789 Broadway Street, Box 3000
Wyoming, ON N0N 1T0

Contacts

Ezio Nadalin, Planner
Donna Clermont, Administrator-Clerk – Township of Dawn Euphemia

Committee of Adjustment

The Dawn-Euphemia Committee of Adjustment is comprised of all of Council. The Committee supports an open and inclusive planning process as they consider decisions on consent, permission and minor variance applications. The process for these applications takes approximately three months, which includes the circulation/notice period prior to the Committee meeting as well as the appeal period following the decision of the Committee.

Contacts

Donna Clermont, Secretary-Treasurer, Committee of Adjustment

What is an Official Plan?

The purpose of an Official Plan is to establish general direction for planning and land use matters; that is, to create policies on how land in the municipality should be used. An Official Plan consists of goals, objectives and policies to guide development and meet the physical, social and economic needs of the community. Dawn-Euphemia’s Official Plan was passed on November 24, 2014. If an Official Plan Amendment is required, the forms are available online or at the Municipal Office. Prior to proceeding with an amendment, you are advised to consult with Planning Staff. In accordance with the Planning Act, all Official Plan amendments are required to have at least one public meeting, public notice of which must be given at least 20 days ahead of time, followed by a 20-day appeal process as any person or public body may provide written comments and/or speak at the public meeting about the proposed amendment. County of Lambton approval is required before the amendment is effective.

View the Official Plan

What is a Zoning By-Law?

The Zoning By-Law is a document used by the municipality to regulate the use of land. The Zoning By-law was passed November 24, 2014, and contains specific requirements that provide a way of managing land use and future development. It also protects property owners from conflicting land uses. The Zoning By-Law covers such items as:

What type of permitted uses are allowed
Where buildings and other structures can be located
The lot sizes, setbacks and dimensions permitted
Other building envelope specifications
Designation of natural and environmental features

View Zoning By-Law 54 of 2014

Official Plan & Zoning By-Law Amendments

Dawn-Euphemia Council makes decisions on all Offical Plan and Zoning By-Law amendments. Every property in the municipality has been identified and mapped in accordance with its land use. Properties are provided with at least two designations:

An Official Plan land use policy (Official Plan)
A land-use zone (Zoning By-Law)

A complete and up-to-date copy of both the Township’s Zoning By-law and Official Plan is available online. The maps are attached and can be used to identify the land-use designation and land-use zone in which a property is located.

Zoning By-Law Amendment

If a Zoning Amendment is required, the forms are available online or at the Municipal Office. The process is as follows:

Consult with Staff: Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their application with staff before they submit an application to ensure a smooth process.
Complete the Application: Please ensure all questions are answered and detailed explanations are given. Ensure that the application is accompanied by a sketch or copy of a survey showing the property layout. The more accurate the information provided, the less likely that delays will occur in the review.
Submit Application, drawings, and fees to our office at 4591 Lambton Line, RR4, Dresden
Notice of Public Meeting: If the application is complete, it is placed on an upcoming council meeting and a public meeting date is set. Notification of the meeting will be mailed by staff to all adjacent property owners within 120 meters, at least 20 days before the meeting. The applicant will be supplied with a sign displaying details of the meeting which must be posted on the subject property. Copies of the application will be circulated to various agencies, and departments for review and comment (e.g., Conservation Authority). The County Planner will review the application against provincial, county, and local policies.
Public Meeting and Decision: At the public meeting, staff will present the planning report and recommendation to Council. Those present are given the opportunity to speak and a decision is made on the application. The applicant is encouraged to attend the public meeting in case there are questions about the application. If your application is approved, Council may impose conditions as part of its decision.
Notice of Passing – Once Council has passed the By-Law, notice is mailed within 15 days. Any person or public body that meets certain requirements may appeal the by-law, within 20 days of the notice.

Consent (Severance) Applications

A consent (severance) application is a planning tool used to divide the land, reconfigure land, or grant an easement or right of way. Consent applications are considered by the Committee of Adjustment, under the authority of the Planning Act of Ontario. Typical land consent generally takes approximately 90 days to process which includes seeking input from the public and various agencies. The process includes:

Consult with Staff: Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their application with staff before they submit an application to ensure a smooth process.
Complete Application: Please ensure all questions are answered and detailed explanations are given. Ensure that the application is accompanied by a sketch or copy of a survey showing the property layout. The more accurate the information provided, the less likely that delays will occur in the review.
Submit Application, drawings, and fee to our office at 4591 Lambton Line, RR4, Dresden
Notice of Public Meeting: If the application is complete, it is placed on an upcoming council meeting and a public meeting date is set. Notification of the meeting will be mailed by staff, to all adjacent property owners within 60 meters at least 20 days prior to the meeting. Copies of the application will be circulated to various agencies, and departments for review and comment (e.g., Conservation Authority). The County Planner will review the application against provincial, county, and local policies. The applicant will be supplied with a sign displaying details of the public meeting which must be posted on the subject property.
Public Meeting and Decision: At the public meeting, staff will present the planning report and recommendation to the Committee of Adjustment. Those present are given the opportunity to speak and the Committee makes a decision on the application. It is highly recommended that the applicant also attend the meeting in case there are questions about the application. If your application is approved, there are usually conditions imposed that must be fulfilled within 1 year. Consent is deemed refused if the conditions aren’t fulfilled. As well, consent lapses if the transfer is not completed within 2 years.
Notice of Passing – Once Council has passed the By-Law, notice will be mailed within 15 days. Any person or public body that meets certain requirements may appeal the by-law, within 20 days.

Site Plan Requirements

Development other than single detached dwellings and farm buildings may require site plan approval. The County Planner reviews applications and makes recommendations to the Township of Dawn-Euphemia Council. Site Plan Policies and Guidelines have been established by Council. A copy of the Site Plan Application can be downloaded here.

Minor Variance Applications

If a proposed use or structure does not conform to the Zoning By-law but follows its general intent, the owner may apply for a minor variance. Minor Variances may be granted provided that, in the opinion of the Committee, the request is minor in nature, is desirable for the appropriate development or use of the land, building or structure and the general intent of the Zoning By-law and the Official Plan are maintained. The approval of minor variances rests with the Committee of Adjustment. The Minor Variance is as follows:

Consult with Staff: Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their application with staff to determine if a minor variance is the best approach.
Complete the Application: Please ensure all questions are answered and detailed explanations are given, especially for the questions relating to the nature and extent of relief and why it is not possible to comply with the provisions of the Zoning By-Law. Ensure that the application is accompanied by a sketch or copy of a survey showing the property layout. The more accurate the information provided, the less likely that delays will occur in the review.
Submit Application, drawings, and fee to our office at 4591 Lambton Line, RR4, Dresden
Notice of Public Meeting: If the application is complete, it is placed on an upcoming Council agenda and a public meeting date is set. Notification of the public meeting is mailed by staff, to adjacent property owners at least 10 days before the meeting. The applicant will be supplied with a sign displaying details of the public meeting which must be posted on the subject property. Copies of the application will be circulated to internal departments and external agencies to obtain comments. The County Planner will review the application against provincial, county, and local policies.
Public Meeting and Decision: At the public meeting, staff will present the planning report and recommendation to the Committee of Adjustment. Those present are given the opportunity to speak and the Committee makes a decision on the application. The applicant is encouraged to attend the public meeting in case there are questions about the application. If your application is approved, the Committee may impose conditions as part of its decision.
Notice of the Decision: A “Notice of Right to Appeal” and Decision is mailed to the applicant within 15 days after the public meeting.
Decision in Effect: If there are no appeals, you will receive a “Notice of No Appeals” in the mail. If the application has been approved, subject to the fulfillment of any conditions set out in the final decision, the applicant will be able to apply for a building permit.

Application Approval/Denial: Any person, who spoke at the public meeting or sent a written submission to the Clerk, can appeal the decision of Council or the Committee of Adjustment to the Local Planning Appeals Tribunal (LPAT). Those wishing to appeal must submit a completed Appellant Form to the Clerk along with the $300 filing fee payable to the Minister of Finance.

The Township of Dawn-Euphemia’s new Official Plan has now been approved by the Approval Authority and came into force on June 4, 2015. The Township’s new Zoning By-Law (Number 54 of 2014) came into force on November 24, 2014.