OUR SERVICES
land use policy advice, land acquisition and application assistance and the preparation of special studies
Land development services include feasibility analysis; market analysis; subdivision design; technical review; application preparation, submission and processing; and analysis of other development applications and determination of impact on existing or proposed development. Applications include Regional and Official Plan Amendments, Rezoning, Site Plans, Building Permits, Minor Variances, Subdivisions and Severance Consents. Public participation assistance is provided through presentations and liaison with resident’s groups, elected officials and public agency representatives.
Services are provided to different levels of government to assist in preparing Growth Studies, Master Plans, Official Plans and related amendments, Secondary Plans, Zoning By-laws, Urban Design Studies and special planning studies, including expropriation and issue-oriented topics. For these projects, on occasion a larger team of professionals of various disciplines is put together based on the specific requirements of the particular assignment.
In many instances, the planning process requires formal hearings, such as an Ontario Land Tribunal and TLAB hearing, in order to resolve land use disputes or to achieve final approval for a particular proposal or plan. In these instances, the firm provides case preparation and expert testimony at the applicable hearing. Related work includes preparing evidence for such hearings, including formal exhibits to be entered as part of the hearing process, assisting legal counsel in preparing a case and coordinating other consultants, residents and witnesses for the hearing. MPLAN Inc. has also provided expert planning evidence at court and for arbitration matters in support of cases requiring planning expertise and evidence.
In support of planning projects and as independent assignments, aerial and site photography services are provided for use in planning feasibility studies and applications, exhibits for public meetings and hearings, recording of different stages of development activities, exhibits at land dispute tribunals and for marketing of completed sites. Clients have included government agencies, developers, real estate firms, engineering companies, other planning consultants, lawyers, surveyors, private businesses, residents’ associations and the general public and has included sites for clients in Ontario, New Brunswick and other sites Canada and the United States.