A Zoning By-Law Amendment is required to recognize a change in land use or allow development that does not meet the current zoning but complies with the intent of the Official Plan.

When submitting the application include a site plan or survey with the required information as outlined on pages 8-9 of the Zoning By-Law Amendment application.

The Application fee is $1,075. The fee may be paid by cash, cheque, debit or upon request by E-transfer. Cheques should be made payable to “Drummond/North Elmsley Twp”

Application has been submitted

Once an application is submitted to the Township, staff will determine if it is “complete” based on the criteria set out under Schedule 1 of Ontario Regulation 545/06. Pre-consultation with staff is strongly recommended prior to the submission of an application.

Notice of your application will be sent to all landowners within 120m of the subject property as well as to other stakeholders, as required. The Ontario Planning Act requires that notice be provided 20 days prior to the holding of a public meeting. During this 20 day notice period, staff will review the application, conduct a site inspection/visit, consult with the applicant and interested stakeholders, and write a report with a recommendation to council.

Public Meeting

At the public meeting, staff will present the application and staff report to the Committee. The applicant has the opportunity, during the meeting, to address the Committee and answer any questions that may arise. Other individuals or agencies in attendance will be permitted to voice their support or objection to the application.

After the Public Meeting

If the recommendation is to approve the Zoning By-Law Amendment, the necessary by-law will be considered at a subsequent Council Meeting. Council will then adopt a By-Law approving the necessary Zoning Amendment for the specific parcel of land.

If Council approves the proposed amendment and passes a by-law, the by-law will be circulated to give interested parties the chance to appeal. If no appeals are received during the 20-day appeal period, the amendment is in full force and effect.

Appeal Provisions

The process for dealing with zoning amendments is the same as for a zoning by-law. If local council refuses your zoning amendment application, or if it does not make a decision within 180 days of the receipt of your application containing the prescribed information, you may appeal to the Local Appeals Planning Tribunal (LPAT).

Additional Residential Units are permitted on most properties in the Township. For further information please see Additional Residential Units By-Law 24-008

Use this interactive map to determine if your home or business is located in a drinking water protection zone. If you live in a drinking water protection zone, you’re encouraged to take easy steps to protect drinking water for yourself and your neighbours.

Depending on your property’s location and land uses, you may also be required to follow a prescribed risk management plan for your property or subject to additional protective restrictions. Learn more here: https://www.mrsourcewater.ca/en/risk-management-and-environmental-compliance/risk-management-plans

Drinking water protection zones have been determined through a series of technical studies completed by the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region. These studies identified municipal drinking water sources, areas vulnerable to contamination and what the potential sources of contamination might be.  The results of those technical studies were used to direct source protection policy decisions and determine the areas where policies apply.

Under certain circumstances, the following can be significant threats to our drinking water, as prescribed under the Clean Water Act, 2006:

• Waste disposal sites
• Septic systems
• Sewage treatment plants and sewers
• Manure, bio-solids, and livestock
• Fuel and oil
• Commercial fertilizer and pesticides
• Road salt and snow storage
• Chemicals and organic solvents
• Aquaculture
• Oil or gas pipelines

The goal of the Source Protection Plan is to work with property owners to manage or eliminate activities that are or could become significant threats to drinking water sources. In most cases, property owners can reduce the risk and allow the activity to continue with mitigation in place. The Clean Water Act provides several tools to accomplish this, such as education and outreach, risk management plans and changes to municipal land use planning documents. Often a combination of tools works best.

Provincial Ministries, Conservation Authorities, and Municipalities all have different responsibilities for implementing Source Protection Plans. Municipalities have the primary responsibility to implement and enforce policies locally to manage drinking water threats and to implement planning and restricted land use policies.

Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority Office
3889 Rideau Valley Drive
P.O. Box 599
Manotick, ON K4M 1A5

613-692-3571 

Toll Free: 1-800-267-3504

Website

Before filing an application, applicants should speak with Township staff to discuss the requirements of a Site Plan Control application.

When submitting a site plan control application include a site plan or survey with the required information as outlined on page 8 of the site plan control application. 

The Application fee is $725. The fee may be paid by cash, cheque, debit or upon request by E-transfer. Cheques should be made payable to “Drummond/North Elmsley Twp”

Application has been submitted

The application is circulated to other Township Departments and various agencies for their comments. All correspondence will be reviewed, and the Township Planner will approve the necessary Site Plan Control Agreement that lists the various conditions for the specific development.

Site Plan Agreement has been Finalized 

Once the Site Plan Agreement is approved, both the Township and the Applicant sign the agreement. The legal agreement is then registered on title so that it is binding on subsequent owners of the property.

Appeal Provisions

Only the Applicant can appeal the conditions of the Site Plan Control Approval to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).

The indiscriminate division of land without anyone’s approval could have a long-term, negative impact on your community. For example, it could result in the over-extension of municipal services, such as snow plowing, school busing and garbage collection. Or it might result in damage to the natural environment because lots are too small to accommodate adequate sewage disposal systems. 

Official approval is required to ensure that:

• land severances are considered within an established community planning framework
• new lots and new land uses do not conflict with the overall future planning goals and policies of your community
• Consideration is given to the effects of the division of land on the site, on the neighbours and on the community as a whole.

The County of Lanark was given approval authority for consents (severances) in June 1973. This task is handled by a Land Division Committee who meet monthly. 

Before you apply for a land severance, you must complete the pre-consultation with the Township’s Planner. They will be able to tell you how to apply, what supporting material you must submit (e.g. sketches, plans) if there are any special land severance requirements set out in the Official Plan and what other permits and approvals may be required.

The Township’s pre-consultation fee is $475 for the first lot and $200 for each additional lot. The fee may be paid by cash, cheque, or debit. Cheques should be made payable to “Drummond/North Elmsley Twp”

Further information and application forms are available on the Lanark County website.

In considering each application for land severance, the proposal is evaluated against criteria such as:

• conformity with the Official Plan and compatibility with adjacent uses of land
• compliance with local zoning by-laws
• suitability of the land for the proposed purpose, including the size and shape of the lot(s) being created
• adequacy of vehicular access, water supply, sewage disposal
• the need to ensure protection from potential flooding, etc.

The application is reviewed by the Lanark County Land Division Committee with comments received from The Township of Drummond/North Elmsley, the applicable Conservation Authority, the Township’s Septic Department, and the public.

A severance approval may have certain conditions attached to it including requirements for road widening, parkland dedication, or a rezoning (or minor variance) to allow a new land use. In addition, the property owner may be required to enter into an agreement with the municipality to provide future services or facilities. Severance conditions must be met within two years.

When all the conditions have been met by the applicant, a certificate is issued by Lanark County, and the severance goes into effect after it has been registered in the Land Registry Office. 

• Lanark County Consent Application
• Lanark County Subdivision Application Form
•  Citizen's Guide to Land Use Planning
• Minimum Distance Separation - Data Sheet