PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PAC)
 
The Director presents the request at a Planning Advisory Committee (P.A.C.) meeting.  These closed-door meetings take place every 4 to 5 weeks throughout the year.  The P.A.C. which is comprised of citizens, a Council member, a planning consultant and various department directors, will review the request.  Following this meeting, a report will be presented to Council for consideration during a caucus meeting.
                    
COUNCIL'S DECISION BASED ON PAC RECOMMENDATIONS
 
Council will then:

 - Request additional information.  The property owner will be contacted and will be asked to submit the necessary documents;

OR

 - Agree to continue the amendment procedure.  The property owner will receive a written response and will be asked to submit an additional amount (non-refundable) of $1350 if the amendment is subject to a referendum process, or $350 if it is not;

OR

 - Not agree to continue with the amendment procedure.  The property owner will receive a written response as to why the request was refused.

PUBLICATION AND ADOPTION OF THE BY-LAW BY COUNCIL

Once the additional $1350, or $350 as the case may be, has been paid, a draft by-law is prepared.  The procedure starts with the adoption of a first draft by-law by Council; a notice of motion is also given.  A public notice in the local newspaper provides a summary of the by-law and announces the time and date of the public consultation.
 
Without referendum process:
After this public consultation, and if the first draft by-law does not include any provision susceptible to approval by referendum, the Council may adopt a second draft by-law, with or without any modification and, in a subsequent meeting, the final byl-aw.  The property owner will be asked to submit an additional $175 (non-refundable) for publication of a notice in the local newspaper advising the citizens of the adoption of the by-law and of its coming into force.
 
With a referendum process:
Following the public consultation, and if the first draft by-law includes any provision susceptible to approval by referendum, Council must adopt a second draft by-law, with or without modification from the first draft by-law.  A new public notice in a local newspaper advises qualified voters in the concerned, and wherever it is required, in the contiguous zones, of their right to request that the by-law, including such provisions, be submitted to the referendum process.  The written application must clearly state the provision to which it refers and the zone from which it originates, and be signed by at least 12 qualified voters or by a majority if the number of voters is less than 21.  This application must be received by the City Clerk no later than the eighth (8th) day following the day on which the notice is published.  Should no application be presented by the qualified voters or if their number is not sufficient, the procedure shall be continued.
 
Council adopts the final by-law during a regular meeting.  The property owner will be asked to submit an additional $175 (non-refundable) for publication of a notice in the local newspaper advising the citizens of its adoption, and whenever it is the case, of its coming into force.
 
Should a valid application be presented from the qualified voters of the concerned zone and, whenever applicable, from the qualified voters of any contiguous zone, a register will be held after the adoption of the by-law and at the date set by the City Clerk in a public notice published in a newspaper to that effect (additional fees to be paid by the property owner).  On the given date, the qualified voters may present themselves to City Hall to sign the register so as to ask that the by-law be submitted to a referendum.  Should a sufficient number of qualified voters sign the register, Council would have to hold a referendum or they may decide to withdraw the by-law.

PERMIT OR CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORIZATION REQUEST
 
The property owner can now complete his request for a building permit or certificate of authorization by submitting the necessary plans to the Planning Department.
 
IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING AN APPLICATION :

- There is no guarantee that a zoning amendment request will be granted by Council
- The zoning amendment procedure takes 4 to 6 months, or more, to complete.
- The non-refundable cost of $1525 or $2525 and more, as the case may be.