Government Pulls Plug on Local Planning Appeal Support Center Citing Improved Spending Plans

Sudbury residents received the opportunity to file their appeals and have them reviewed in a time-efficient manner last year and this was a decision welcomed with great support. Now it has been confirmed by the Ministry of the Attorney General that the Local Planning Appeal Support Center is going to close for good this summer, about a year after it launched operation. This means that Kingsway Entertainment District appeals currently looked through would be the last ones.

Confirmation to an already raging suspicion came recently straight from the Government of Ontario that considered this to be the right move given the current circumstances. As of this week, the center will no longer accept appeals from members of the community related to various development projects across the province. In this sense, the appeals that have been filed in prior to this point would be reviewed, but as it has been estimated previously, the process could extend all the way to September or October.

LPASC Requests No Longer Accepted

June 30, 2019 is a special date for everyone directly and indirectly affected by the services the Local Planning Appeal Support Center is able to provide. This is when it is expected to close for good, but in the months leading to it would continue its operation in the same manner and with the same attention to detail. It has on offer free-of-charge guidance for everyone interested in learning more or participating in the land use planning and appeal process.

In addition to those, the Center is also able to offer its customers professional services legal services in response to a development application, policy amendment or in support of a Local Planning Appeal Tribunal appeal. The Government also confirmed that everyone who had filed an appeal up until now would be contacted promptly in order to receive further information on the shutdown. Brian Gray, Ministry Spokesperson explained that the reason for this closure is related to funding.

The fact that requests have seen a decrease over the past few months has been evident and actions had to be taken. As it often happens, optimization of the way money is spent is required and this is what would happen when the Support Center winds down at the end of June. Another reason for this closure is that at the moment the LPAT appears to be taking more time than originally estimated to review the already filed in appeals.

Appellants Except the Battle to Become Even Harder

Estimations are that down the road this decision is going to result in fewer appeals in general and a more efficient process. John Lindsay is one of the people that appeal the entertainment complex soon to be built in Greater Sudbury. As a member of the Minnow Lake Restoration Group, he opposes the parking lot without lawyers’ support.

He expressed a personal opinion that the services provided insufficient help. Local businessman Tom Fortin together with Downtown Sudbury Business Association oppose the fact that local funding would be essential for the casino project and so far he has poured some CA$350,000. Estimations are that the figure could reach CA$500,000 by this fall.

Gateway Casinos is planning to introduce a Starlight Casino to the project, but according to an Initial Public Offering, projections are that locals would be the main patrons making their way to the facility. Initial discussions eyed it as a potential magnet for tourists and cash flow from neighboring communities. This spring was supposed to see a decision on the aforementioned appeals related to the planned Kingsway Entertainment District, but due to their large number, the process ended up taking longer.