Lincoln's Town Council approved a motion Aug. 18 that adopts a part of the Ontario Planning Act into the town's Official Plan, which allows for such circumstances as long as there is a benefit to the community.

The motion is the start of a long process, which requires public meetings before being implemented, said Mayor Bob Hodgson.

The town retained the services of Ron Marini and Associates Inc. to research how it could incorporate this policy into the Official Plan.

He told the town's planning committee at its Aug. 12 meeting that if the policy is adopted, it must be added to the Official Plan as an amendment, represent good planning, conform to provincial legislation and be used in urban designated areas of Lincoln.

Instead of providing specific recommendations on the types of benefits the town should provide for an exchange, he studied other municipalities and provided options that council could choose from, such as walking trails, preservation of natural areas, special needs housing, conservation of historical buildings, recreational facilities or underground parking.

For example, if a business installs an underground parking lot in exchange for higher density, it's a benefit to the community because the space that would have been used as a parking lot can now be used for a park or for affordable housing, he said.

The town must be satisfied that the benefits outweigh the cost of increasing the density before it approves any agreements, he said.

At council's Monday meeting, Coun. Peter Randall raised concern with how fast council was passing the recommendation.

He proposed that council send the issue back to the town's corporate committee meeting, which all councillors are a part of, before starting the process.

"It seemed to me as something pretty far reaching and once in place is there for all time. I'll call it kind of dangerous and intriguing at the same time. It just seems broader than planning committee, and it's something we should really discuss as a council."

Mayor Hodgson it will go a "lengthy process" before the town creates its own policies regarding the provincial planning act.

If after the process is complete council can make a decision one way or the other, he added.

"It puts council in a much better position if we say we looked at the policy and decided for various good reasons not to enact the policy that's a lot better place to be that to say we never thought of that."

Mayor Hodgson said many municipalities have put the policies in place, so they don't have situations arise in which developers are asking for an exchange and they don't have the framework to deal with the request.

"(The policies) may just sit on the shelf or be there one day when an opportunity comes along."