Planning and Environment Committee

Members

Chair:

Vice Chair:

Members:

Ex officio:

Councillor
Peter Hume

Councillor
Peggy Feltmate

Councillor Michel Bellemare
Councillor Clive Doucet
Councillor Diane Holmes
Councillor Gord Hunter
Councillor Bob Monette
Councillor Shad Qadri

Mayor Larry O’Brien

Terms of Reference

The Planning and Environment Committee is responsible for ensuring the enforcement of the City of Ottawa’s Official Plan [excluding those areas within the City’s rural areas, as defined in Schedule “A” of the City’s Official Plan (Document 1)] through the investigation of physical, social, economic and environmental conditions in the development and implementation of the Official Plan, and by making recommendations on issues relating to Building Services; Planning and Infrastructure Approvals; and Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Policy where applicable.

The Committee is also responsible for the provision of overall guidance and direction in the areas and issues relating to utilities (i.e. water, wastewater and solid waste) and piped services, environmental protection, including water supply, solid waste management and disposal and water pollution control. The Committee will provide overall guidance and direction in the areas of the administration and maintenance of open spaces, trees and the Urban Forest (not including parks and sports fields), and to the Environmental Sustainability Division for items within the mandate of the Committee and environmental policy issues.

Membership

Membership of the Planning and Environment Committee shall consist of nine (9) members of City Council, appointed by the Nominating Committee and approved by City Council. The Mayor is an ex-officio member.

General Responsibilities

The Planning and Environment Committee shall:

  1. Be responsible directly to Council for those items emanating from:
    1. the Planning and Growth Management Department;
    2. the Utility Services Branch and Infrastructure Services Branch (on items related to piped services) of the Public Works and Services Department;
    3. the Surface Operations Branch of the Public Works and Services Department on items related to the administration and maintenance of open spaces, trees and the Urban Forest (not including parks and sports fields);
    4. the Legal Services Branch of the Corporate Services Department with respect to matters before an administrative tribunal or the courts, which are of a planning nature or subject to the Ontario Building Code Act;
    5. advisory committees that are within the area of responsibility of the Planning and Environment Committee; and
    6. the two urban panels of the Committee of Adjustment.

  2. Be responsible for:
    1. the administration and maintenance of open spaces (not including parks or sports fields);
    2. the administration and maintenance of trees and the Urban Forest, including street trees;
    3. making recommendations to Council on environmental policy issues (i.e. waste management, water quality, climate change, landfill, open spaces, trees, etc.)
    4. the Community Environmental Grants Program; and
    5. responding to federal and provincial environmental initiatives affecting Municipal Operations and Surface Water Quality.

  3. Provide overall guidance and direction to the Planning and Growth Management Department, to the Utility Services Branch and the Infrastructure Services Branch (on items related to piped services) and the Surface Operations Branch of the Public Works and Services Department, on items related to the administration and maintenance of open spaces and the Urban Forest (not including parks and sports fields)

  4. Provide overall guidance and direction in areas of water supply, solid waste management and disposal and water pollution control.

  5. Monitor the associated activities and implementation of programs and projects of the Planning and Growth Management Department, to the Utility Services Branch and Infrastructure Services Branch (on items related to piped services) and the Surface Operations Branch of the Public Works and Services Department, on items related to the administration and maintenance of open spaces and the Urban Forest (not including parks and sports fields).

  6. Long term planning (capital programs) for Open Spaces, Trees and the Urban Forest as within the context of development applications and official plan policies.

  7. Ensure active public participation by receiving delegations from the public, and holding public hearings as required by statute and Council.

  8. Subsequent to the approval of the budget, review and approve all operating and capital budget adjustments that are within the existing funding envelopes of the Planning and Growth Management Department (exclusive of the Economic Development and Strategic Projects Branch) and inclusive of fleet and real property (new, renovations, major rehabilitation) capital projects falling under the responsibility of this standing committee); (ii) the Public Works and Services capital projects related to water and sewer growth; (iii) the Utility Services Branch, the Infrastructure Services Branch (on items related to piped services) and the Surface Operations Branch (relating to the administration and maintenance of open spaces, trees and the Urban Forest) of the Public Works and Services Department (inclusive of fleet and real property (new, renovations, major rehabilitation) capital projects falling under the responsibility of this standing committee),

  9. Subsequent to the approval of the budget, consider, for recommendation to Council:
    1. the policy direction and prioritization, but not the funding requirements, of new matters which are within the Committee’s mandate; and
    2. matters which were not previously approved, but can be accommodated within the applicable departmental existing capital or operating budgets.

  10. Recommend to Council proposed by-laws that are under the Committee’s jurisdiction.

  11. Pursuant with the Delegation of Authority By-law (Section – Conferences and Conventions), approve Councillors travel and attendance at conferences that are related to the Committee’s mandate.

  12. Review and recommend to Council revisions to the Planning and Environment Committee Terms of Reference, as required.

  13. Review and recommend to Council matters related to Advisory Committees under the Standing Committee’s responsibility, such as but not limited to the Advisory Committee membership, the Terms of Reference, annual work plans and reporting, and funding requests.

  14. Recommend to Council City of Ottawa participation in federal or provincial cost-sharing programs or employment incentive programs for matters within the mandate of the Committee.

Specific Responsibilities

Planning
Utilities
Housing
Open spaces, trees, the urban forest and environmental protection, etc.
Legal Services
Receive Delegations

Planning

Objectives

To ensure the proper investigation and survey of the physical, social, economic and environmental conditions in relation to the development and redevelopment of the City of Ottawa.

Guidance and Direction

The Planning and Environment Committee, as a complement to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, and without limiting the generality of the objective, shall be responsible for:

  • preparation of maps, drawings, texts, statistical information and any other material necessary for the anticipation of issues and solution of problems affecting the development, or redevelopment of the City of Ottawa;
  • holding public meetings and publishing information to encourage the participation and co operation of the inhabitants of the City of Ottawa in the anticipation of issues and solution of problems, or matters affecting the development, or redevelopment of the City;
  • consultation with any applicable local board having jurisdiction within the City of Ottawa;
  • making recommendations to City Council with respect to environmental planning issues related to the mandate of the Planning and Environment Committee;
  • making recommendations to City Council respecting matters designed to ensure that the City of Ottawa’s Official Plan remains up to date;
  • making recommendations to Council related to the delegation by the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs, as set out in the Planning Act, of those matters not delegated to staff;
  • reviewing and making recommendations to City Council concerning other planning matters of the City, including neighbourhood area studies, special studies, aerial photography and mapping, development control matters and planning policy matters;
  • making recommendations to City Council on appointments to the urban panels of the Committee of Adjustment;
  • when applicable, receiving reports on staff action, including approval functions delegated by Council, for the following matters within the urban and suburban areas of the City:
  • subdivision and condominium applications;
  • extensions of draft plan approvals;
  • site plan control applications;
  • approval of zoning by-laws;
  • land severance applications and minor variances granted by the two urban panels of the Committee of Adjustment;
  • Official Plan amendments;
  • street openings and closings;
  • street name changes;
  • municipal addressing;
  • administration and enforcement of the Ontario Building Code;
  • 30 cm reserves;
  • lifting of Holding Provisions;
  • signs by-laws, variances and amendments; and
  • cash-in-lieu of parking agreements.

The Planning and Environment Committee shall also be responsible for recommending to Council, any proposed action which is at variance with action taken by staff pursuant to delegated authority.

Utilities

Objectives

To ensure the provision of overall guidance and direction in areas of environmental protection, including water supply, solid waste management and disposal, and water pollution control.

Guidance and Direction

The Planning and Environment Committee shall be responsible for:

  • ensuring the co-ordination of planning and decision making in the area of Utilities;
  • making recommendations to City Council with respect to priority policy issues within the mandate of the Committee;
  • monitoring the activities and the implementation of the Utility Services Branch programs and projects;
  • reviewing and revising, if necessary, staff comments and recommendations on environmental initiatives as proposed by the federal and provincial governments;
  • exercising other specific responsibilities set forth by relevant statutes and City Council;
  • ensuring co-ordination and consultation with committees and departments where responsibilities overlap on issues of environmental protection and on issues relevant to the mandate of more than one committee;
  • reviewing, revising if necessary and recommending approval of operational programs for the maintenance of the existing and proposed infrastructure in accordance with the policies of the City of Ottawa;
  • recommending to Council the preparation of the environmental study report, the Environmental Assessment Board Hearing and the implementation of the Master Plan recommendations with respect to the Waste Management Master Plan; and
  • providing comments on Certificates of Approval for waste facilities circulated by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.

Housing

Objectives

To oversee and provide guidance on housing issues within its mandate (i.e. issues other than social housing, supportive housing and homelessness).

Guidance and Direction

The Planning and Environment Committee shall have the authority to investigate housing issues that do not fall within the mandate of the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee (i.e. issues other than social housing, supportive housing and homelessness) and recommend to City Council housing policy for the Official Plan based on:

  • researching housing requirements of the City and preparing housing targets;
  • keeping informed of federal and provincial housing policies and other related policy initiatives;
  • receiving reports on the periodic review and evaluation of the housing situation in the City;
  • receiving reports on the implementation of the City of Ottawa Official Plan housing policy; and
  • matters designed to ensure that the City of Ottawa Municipal Housing Statement remains up to date.

Open spaces, trees, the urban forest and environmental protection, etc.

Objectives

To ensure the provision of overall guidance and direction in regards to the administration and maintenance of open spaces (not including parks and sports fields), trees, including street trees, and the Urban Forest.

Guidance and Direction

The Planning and Environment Committee shall be responsible for:

  • reviewing, revise if necessary and recommend approval of operational programs for the maintenance of open spaces, trees and the urban forest in accordance with the policies of the City of Ottawa;
  • encouraging a high standard of private forest management and monitor the application of any tree by-laws enacted under the Municipal Act and other relevant legislation;
  • making recommendations to City Council with respect to priority policy issues within the mandate of the Committee; and
  • ensuring co-ordination and consultation with committees and departments where responsibilities overlap on issues of environmental protection of open spaces, trees and the Urban Forest and on issues relevant to the mandate of more than one committee.

Legal Services

The Planning and Environment Committee shall have the authority to hear briefings on litigious matters of a planning and development nature and to give direction to the City Solicitor on such matters.

Receive Delegations

The Planning and Environment Committee shall have the authority to receive and hear delegations on matters affecting general land use planning in the City of Ottawa and to hold public hearings, as required by the Planning Act and the Municipal Act.

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