OMB overdue for review

Re When ‘minor variances’ become major issues, April 24 This insightful article does not mention the cause of poor planning in Ontario — the Ontario Municipal Board. In the past 10 years, this body has changed from thoughtful to an “Alice in Wonderland.”

Now, financially conflicted development planners and highly paid lawyers have proved to the satisfaction of the OMB that for minor variances: minor means major, adjustment means radical change and modest means huge.

The OMB ignores the Planning Act, the Official Plan and Divisional Court rulings to approve even the most glaringly bad planning. The powers of the Committee of Adjustment and Planning Department are reduced if they know OMB approval is likely in the offing.

On top of this, it is highly stressful for a resident to go to OMB hearings and risk being belittled and bullied. Once outlandish approvals are given, the only option is for neighbours to move away. And they do, in increasing numbers.

The wildly out of control OMB is overdue for review. David Godley, Toronto