Busted! Don’t Believe These Planning And Development Myths!

Purchasing land for any potential development can be very complex. Land use is governed by various documents, including Zoning By-laws, Site Plan Control, Provincial Policy and more.

If you are looking for planning and development solutions that are efficient and pocket-friendly, seek advice from a planning and development consultant. They work with individual property owners of residential, commercial and industrial property to help navigate through the ever changing approval process.

To help you steer clear of these misconceptions, Oakview Land Use Planning has debunked some of the most widely believed myths about planning and development.

Myth 1: You don’t need a planner to develop a property
This myth exists because, of course, hiring a planner is an expense. This can be entirely true, if someone does their research and can rely on municipal planning staff to guide them, you may be successful. Unfortunately, most municipal planners are overwhelmed and understaffed. Many planning departments are lucky to keep up with regular day-to-day administration, let alone provide guidance to individual property owners or developers. Often your project can get lost in a sea of other developments. It isn’t that staff don’t want to help, they just don’t have the time. Hiring a consultant as your advocate often helps take pressure off municipal staff and can help keep your project on schedule. Unless you are familiar with the planning process, hiring a professional can often save time, money and frustration in the long term.

Myth 2:Consulting planners are paid to provide an opinion and support 
If your planner is a registered member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute, they are bound by a code of ethics and conduct. All planners must follow the guidance of the local planning documents, Provincial Policy and basic planning principles. A good planner will be honest and outline the pros and cons of a particular project.

Myth 3: Hiring professionals at the start of a project
All journeys start with preparation. A professional planner can map out the right course and manage their client’s expectations. At Oakview LUP, the goal is to keep the client informed, even if it is to update them on their status. Your project is important and should always be a priority for your planner.

If you’re looking to steer clear of these myths, reach out to Oakview Land Use Planning, in Chatham, Ontario.

I have 22 years of experience and a strong municipal background working in urban and agricultural areas. Our services include municipal development review, planning justification, site plan review and development, planning act application preparation and filing, pre-consultation services, OLT preparation, and filing. Our clients are spread across Essex, Chatham-Kent, Lambton County, Elgin County, Middlesex County, and the surrounding areas.

For a complete list of our services, please click here. If you have questions about Oakview Land Use Planning, we’d love to hear from you. For more information, please call us at (519) 809-4539 or email us at rbrown@oakviewlup.ca.