What is the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT)?
The Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) is an adjudicative tribunal that hears cases in relation to a range of land use matters, heritage conservation and municipal governance. These include matters such as official plans, zoning by-laws, subdivision plans, consents and minor variances, land compensations, development charges, electoral ward boundaries, municipal finances, aggregate resources and other issues assigned by numerous Ontario statutes. Click this link to go to the LPAT website https://elto.gov.on.ca/tribunals/lpat/about-lpat/
You asked how can residents be involved in LPAT?
Read the Citizen’s Guide to Land Use Planning here: https://www.ontario.ca/document/citizens-guide-land-use-planning/local-planning-appeal-tribunal
People can effectively express their individual or group interest in a planning matter by participating early in the process.
If you do not share your views, either by oral presentation at a public meeting or by written submission prior to council’s decision on official plan or zoning bylaw amendments, or plans of subdivision, you do not qualify to appeal such matters to the LPAT.
Follow this link to view Current Cases before the LPAT https://elto.gov.on.ca/tribunals/lpat/e-status/
You asked why residents are no longer included or consulted in developer plans?
To stay informed residents should attend the biweekly Council Public meetings.
Council Public Meetings are statutory public consultation meetings held under the Planning Act to deal with all land use planning matters within the municipality.
Public participants are asked to fill out a form to have their name included in any future communications/meetings by the Clerk relative to the specific development application.