Peter Gross Partner Certified Specialist Municipal Law: Land Use Planning and Development


Speaks:  English

Year of Call: 2011 - Ontario

Year of Call: 1995 - State of Washington


Primary office:  Toronto



Peter Gross

Peter Gross is a partner in Gowling WLG's Toronto office, practising in the area of municipal land use planning law. An LSO Certified Specialist, Peter provides strategic and practical advice to help clients navigate complex development approval processes and obtain timely and cost effective results.

Peter routinely works with teams of planning and technical experts to ensure that development applications satisfy the requirements of the Province's policy-led planning regime, regulatory requirements and all applicable legislation. Peter also liaises with municipal staff to proactively resolve issues and facilitate submission and processing of development applications.

Peter frequently appears before various land use tribunals and courts representing clients on a wide range of land use planning appeals and defense of regulatory prosecutions.

Career & Recognition

Filter timeline:
  • 2023

  • 2022

  • 2021

    • Rankings & Awards
      August 2021
      Best Lawyers in Canada 2022
    • Community
       2021
      Toronto Lands Corporation, Board of Directors, Citizen Director
  • 2020

  • 2019

    • Community
       2019
      Ontario Bar Association, Municipal Section Executive, Chair
  • 2018

    • Community
       2018
      Ontario Bar Association, Municipal Section Executive, Vice Chair
  • 2015

    • Community
       2015
      Ontario Bar Association, Municipal Section Executive, Secretary
  • 2014

    • Community
       2014
      Ontario Bar Association, Municipal Section Executive, Member-at-Large
  • 2013

    • Career
       2013
      Wood Bull LLP, Solicitor, Municipal Land Use Planning and Development
  • 2011

    • Qualifications (Year of Call/Admission, etc.)
       2011
      Year of Call, Ontario
  • 2010

    • Career
       2010
      Town of Caledon, Solicitor, Development Approvals and Planning Policy Department
  • 1995

    • Education
       1995
      Seattle University School of Law, JD
    • Qualifications (Year of Call/Admission, etc.)
       1995
      Year of Call, State of Washington
  • 1990

    • Education
       1990
      Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, B.Sc.

Memberships

  • Washington State Bar Association
  • Law Society of Ontario

Representative Work

Peter acts on behalf of private individuals and commercial developers to obtain development approvals from municipal authorities, including:

  • Minor Variances
  • Consents to Sever
  • Site Plan Approvals
  • Zoning by-law Amendments
  • Official Plan Amendments
  • Plans of Subdivision

Peter regularly appears before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (formerly the Ontario Municipal Board) and the Toronto Local Appeal Body representing clients in appeals pursuant to the Planning Act.

Peter also has experience with respect to development approvals under the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act and appeals before the Niagara Escarpment Hearing Office.

Peter frequently advises industrial clients concerning land use compatibility issues, including regulatory compliance in regard to noise, odour and air emissions. He has extensive experience negotiating and drafting complex settlement agreements to resolve incompatibility between existing industrial uses and proposed sensitive uses.

Peter also assists clients in obtaining licences to extract under the Aggregate Resources Act.