Development Permit Demonstration Project
Hamilton, Lake of Bays, Oakville

Date: 2000
Partner-in-charge: Peter Smith

The Development Permit Demonstration Project was undertaken for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.  The purpose of the Demonstration Project was to examine the potential for the use of a Development Permit System in three different land use contexts throughout the Province (Hamilton Downtown, Lake of Bays waterfront and a “greenfields” Business Park in Oakville) and to establish principles to guide the preparation of a Provincial Regulation to establish the “ground rules” for the use of the Development Permit System.

Bousfields was responsible for working with a Province-wide stakeholders’ committee, undertaking public consultation in the three municipalities and drafting Official Plan policies and Development Permit By-laws for the three demonstration areas, in consultation with municipal staff. 

The Demonstration Project led to the issuance of a Provincial Regulation in 2001, authorizing the establishment of a Development Permit System in the three demonstration areas and two additional areas (City of Toronto Central Waterfront and Region of Waterloo wellhead protection areas).  The Township of the Lake of Bays became the first municipality in Ontario to adopt a Development Permit By-law in 2006.