Wakefield Ensemble

During the AGM last week, David Morgan mentioned that the draft terms of reference for the proposed Wakefield Development Advisory Committee would be placed on the WE website. Please find them below; feel free to comment.

PURPOSE
• To provide residents of Wakefield (where ‘resident’ is defined to include owners of businesses in Wakefield) with the opportunity to be involved in the development review process
• To assist the Municipality of La Pêche achieve its goal of consistent, fair and transparent reviews of development proposals in Wakefield (consistent with its mission, vision and any future Wakefield development plans as these are developed (e.g., PPU, PAE, PIIA))

MANDATE
• To act in an advisory role to Council in the review of:
o all new development proposals concerning properties over 2000 s.f. in Wakefield
o all zoning and re-zoning applications concerning properties in Wakefield over 2000 s.f.
o regulations having the potential to have a material impact on development and land-use in Wakefield
• To inform and engage interested Wakefield residents in development decision-making in their community
• Council establishes the WDAC mandate, and WDAC recommendations are to go directly to Council.
o If, for administrative reasons, it is determined that WDAC should function as a sub-committee of the Comité Consultatif d’Urbanisme (CCU), Council will continue to receive WDAC recommendations directly, notwithstanding any other recommendations that Council might also receive on the same issue(s).
o Council review and consideration of WDAC recommendations is a condition of any final development decision

MEMBERSHIP
• 7-9 members:
o 2 municipal members (councillor, planner): non-voting
o others (5-7) resident members: voting
• Municipal members are members during their terms / employment
• Resident members are chosen for 4 year renewable terms (for the first slate, ½ will serve for 2 years)

Membership criteria
• Expertise and interest: within these broad criteria, consideration will be given to the desirability of having persons with an appropriate measure of expertise in matters such as construction, environment, planning, architecture, heritage and recreation
• Overall mix / representativeness of Committee members shall also be taken into consideration

Membership selection
• A selection committee shall be constituted to determine resident members.
• The selection committee is to be comprised of:
o the ward councillor,
o the municipal planner and
o for the first slate of members only, a member of Wakefield Ensemble (the latter determined by the WE Board of Directors); thereafter, the 3rd member of the selection committee shall be chosen by WDAC members from amongst themselves

RESPONSIBILITIES
WDAC
• Review development applications (per mandate)
• Provide Council with recommendations to accept or reject or require modifications to a given development application, together with rationale based on master plan, PPU, community plans, guidelines, regulations and other related policy and regulatory instruments
• Consult with community as appropriate
• Advise or comment as appropriate on any other planning matter relevant to Wakefield
• With municipal planner, determine whether the matter is best considered by WDAC and/or by the Comité Consultatif d’Urbanisme

Municipal Planner
• Refer all applicable Wakefield development permit, zoning/rezoning applications, formal or informal, to WDAC at earliest stage of process
• Provide initial analysis regarding implications, compliance with regulations and plans, timing, etc.
• Advise WDAC of all proposed development and re-zoning changes within the ward at the earliest legal opportunity

Council
• Makes final determination
• If WDAC recommendation is not followed, in whole or in part, to provide written rationale within 24 hours of Council’s decision, and in advance of posting any public notice required for any by-law change

OTHER MATTERS
Meetings
• Regular, monthly meetings, or as required
• Open to public, in a manner that takes into consideration the importance of transparency, legitimacy and informed decision-making, as well as of efficiency and timeliness

Rules of Procedure
• Determined by WDAC
• Reference to formal rules of procedure (e.g., Roberts; Morin) as / when required

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