The Planning Advisory Committee is a 9-member committee appointed by Common Council which has a number of roles with respect to current planning and developments:

• To provide advice to Common Council on applications to amend the Municipal Development Plan, the Zoning By-law, or Section 39 conditions.
• To provide advice to Common Council with respect to subdivision proposals where new infrastructure (e.g. roads), public right-of-ways, easements or dedications for Land for Public Purposes are involved.
• To make decisions with respect to proposals for conditional uses, significant variances, establishment of similar, compatible and temporary uses.

Committee meetings are usually held every second Tuesday in the Common Council Chambers when necessary, except when public holidays falls on the Monday before (then it is held on Wednesdays). Meetings are open to the public and interested parties are provided with opportunities to present their views with respect to development proposals/applications being considered by the Committee.
 
Members are appointed on a three year term (renewable), with one-third of the membership being renewed each year.

It should be noted that recent changes to the Community Planning Act enable the Development Officer to approve minor variances instead of the Committee. In addition, the Development Officer also has the authority to approve simple subdivisions which comply with the requirements of the Zoning By-law and do not involve new infrastructure, public right-of-ways, easements or dedications for Land for Public Purposes.