Article contentWhen council votes on a major variance, that is the end of the road unless there is an appeal to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission or request for consideration from a third party. This can be anyone so long as they meet required deadlines after the vote.Article contentA council vote on an amendment is not the final step, though it may appear that way. Under the provincial Planning Act, the minister responsible for the act actually has the final say on all bylaw amendments.Article contentThe appeal process for these is a bit different, because there are two readings — votes — for an amendment. The timeline for an appeal actually starts after the first reading.Article contentDeputy Mayor Alanna Jankov, who chairs the planning board, says appeals can have a big impact on project timelines.Article content“If somebody chooses to appeal any decision from planning, you can be from anywhere across Canada — anywhere, actually, anywhere. So, that can really tie things up.”Article contentArticle contentResident perspectiveArticle contentResident members are an important part of the process, Satyajit Sen, a member of the board, told The Guardian in a Sept. 11 interview.Article contentWhile councillors have all the actual decision-making power and accountability to voters, they have to look at numerous factors in every resolution. The planning board, though, deals solely with land use in relation to the official plan and zoning and development bylaw, Sen said.Article contentThis adds valuable input for council to use when they make their decisions. Resident members also notice things the city and council might otherwise overlook, Sen said.Article content“The resident members are important because you bring a resident perspective to the table on those decision-making processes. At the end of the day, it’s a much more collaborative approach.”Article contentAsked about the workload, Sen said there is a significant time commitment for resident members, with documents to review before each meeting.Article contentArticle contentBut it’s an important role in a democratic institution, especially larger centres like the cities. Smaller municipalities often don’t have a board and may not need one, said Sen, who is also the executive director of the Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities.Article contentArticle contentStay informed: Don’t miss the news you need to know. Sign up for our newsletter today.Article contentArticle contentLogan MacLean is a municipal reporter for The Guardian in Prince Edward Island. He can be reached at lmacLean@postmedia.com and followed on X @loganmaclean94.Article content
How the Charlottetown planning board works, step by step
