Expertise

Aggregate resource extraction is one of the most heavily regulated activities in the province, and specialized knowledge and expertise are essential to understanding the interactions of all these different regulations.At Wood Bull, we focus on the licensing, environmental, and land use planning aspects of Ontario’s regulatory regime and provide practical, business oriented advice to operators and stakeholders in the aggregate industry. We are active members of the Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, and work with leading planning, environmental, and engineering firms on individual...

The  Provincial Policy Statement provides policy direction with respect to the conservation of built heritage resources and cultural heritage landscapes in the province.  This policy direction is strengthened by Section 3(5) of the Planning Act (Ont.) which requires that decisions by municipalities and approval authorities “shall be consistent with” the Provincial Policy Statement.Municipal official plans and other relevant land use planning documents also often include detailed objectives and policies relating to the conservation of cultural heritage resources.The Ont...

In advising private and public sector clients in regard to approval processes, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of the extent of and limitations on the powers exercised by municipal authorities.  Over the years, the partners in Wood Bull have been retained by municipalities and private sector entities to act on their behalf in regard to a wide range of municipal powers and municipal governance issues, including:municipal by-law prosecutionsproperty standard appealssign by-law requirements and variancesmunicipal authority to contractmunicipal elections matters

Wood Bull LLP assists clients through the various stages of planning and development approvals, including:Official Plans & Zoning By-lawsMinor VariancesSite Plans & Site Plan AgreementsSeverances/ConsentsPlans of SubdivisionResidential Demolition / Rental ReplacementWood Bull has acted for clients with respect to development approvals in large and small municipalities throughout southern and northern Ontario.  This experience means the lawyers at Wood Bull have an understanding of the planning and political realities in large and small communities.