The province has announced changes to how disputes between developers, residents and governments over planning and development issues are resolved.
It plans to replace the Ontario Municipal Board with the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal which will have less power. Government officials say the tribunal will ONLY have the power to make decisions on whether or not a municipality has followed its planning process and land use plans.
City Planner Thom Hunt admits the changes should speed up appeals.
"They promise to eliminate lengthy or costly hearings for the majority appeals that would have gone to the OMB," says Hunt. "This new tribunal would be mandated to give greater weight to the decisions of local community but at the same time ensuring that development and growth occurs in a way that is good locally and provincially."
He admits the changes will have great impact in Toronto where there are more appeals....and appeals of appeals.
Hunt says in Windsor-Essex, we don't see a lot of appeals.