What is an Urban Planner?
Urban Planners are professionals (RPP: Registered Professional Planner) who are experts in land use policy, site design, and navigating the bureaucracy of planning applications. They are guided by a code of ethics and are expected to interpret policies for the greater good of the wider community. Urban planning consulting services help their clients by providing advice on if/how to approach obstacles in planning matters. Planners can also work for municipalities or other authorities, writing and interpreting policies on their behalf.
Reasons to Hire an Urban Planner
In short, to save time and money, when setting out to develop land. Most potential developers and landowners fit into two categories. Those that have experience in land development, and those that do not. Many landowners have grand ideas that may be beyond the permitted limits of zoning bylaws or other limiting policies. As a result, you will need a Planner to assist you through the approval process. Other landowners may not fully understand the hidden potential and increased value that can be added to a property. This is where a Planner can assist.
An urban planner can clarify, interpret, and navigate the vast bureaucracy of municipal, regional, and provincial policies. This includes conservation, Niagara Escarpment, environmental, agricultural, urban design, and servicing policies that people often overlook. Not knowing about certain policies before buying a property could be disastrous, since your development plans may not even be possible due to some hidden technicality. Receiving unbiased advice and information about your property (even before purchasing it) can dramatically affect plans, timelines, and costs, plus the earlier you involve a planner the sooner you get fully informed and make strategic decisions. In most cases, a Planning Justification Report (PJR) will be required and is only available from an (RPP) Planner. Also, when going to an Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearing (or TLAB) it is extremely useful to have a planner on your side as an expert witness. The level of knowledge and expertise provided by an RPP can easily make or break a case.
What does a planner actually do?
An Urban planning solution provider can help you navigate complex application processes or even manage them for you. Processes like: seeking to sever a lot; obtaining site plan approval; creating a subdivision; changing land uses; obtaining a Minor variance; altering zoning limits; or appealing changes that affect your land or decisions on your applications.
They can manage projects from the idea stage, through approvals. This means having professional, experienced supervisory management of all the other potential project needs and sub-consultants, such as Geotech, Archaeology, Engineering, Traffic, Environmental, Heritage, Architecture, and Servicing professionals. Without help, the coordination of when and who needs to be contacted or involved can be overwhelming and can cause major project delays as long as months or even years, and significantly increase both carrying and actual project costs.
Planners can also help you flesh out your ideas and produce site plan drawings and designs that will effectively communicate your plans to others (e.g. Government, investors, etc.) while combining information from multiple sources. This can reduce the time spent seeking approvals simply because they have the experience and knowledge to create effective site plans that address many possible concerns and potential pitfalls of a project.
Another benefit of hiring a planner comes down to their experience dealing directly with municipalities and other officials. Knowing who to ask, when to argue, and what arguments are worth fighting for can be extremely beneficial.
Getting a clear picture of the potential and limits that a property has, will save you time and money in attempting development. Knowledge of the costs and hurdles associated with a proposed development can be a good reality check as well as a great budgeting tool. Getting this information before applying to change current policies can help determine if a project is even feasible before spending big money on an application process.
In an area like Toronto, designing a real estate project within regulations while making it attractive, convenient, and affordable can be a huge challenge. you can find a top-notch urban planner by looking for Sustainable Urban Growth Solutions in GTA, especially since sustainability has become a very essential aspect of any type of project. By crafting a sustainable infrastructure urban planners can enhance your ROI to a significant level.
Having an RPP (Planner) represent you in planning matters presents a strong, professional face that is generally respected in the field. Due to the required schooling and experience needed to become a part of Urban planning consulting services, they are extremely valuable as expert witnesses in court proceedings on land use and planning matters. Entire legal cases can be based on their opinions and interpretations of existing policies. You would still need a lawyer for such a hearing, but without the planner as your expert, your case may not hold much weight with the people deciding your fate.
Expert in Urban Planning and Development! Partner with One of the Top Urban Development Firms. Call Urban In Mind at (905) 320-8120 or visit urbaninmind.ca today!
As we are a growing company, there are often positions available. If applying for a position, please send your resume with cover letter outlining your qualifications to the following email: 
At Urban in Mind, we represent developers, builders, municipalities, landlords, special interest groups, neighbourhood associations and individual residents, to name a few… all in the hope of creating “Good” development for all. With over three decades of experience in the municipal planning, education planning and development field, we are confident that your project couldn’t be in safer hands.
