We are a small consulting firm providing professional planning and economic development advice.

Our clients include real estate developers, individual landowners, municipalities, the Ontario government, private corporations and not-for-profit organizations.

We have 30 years of planning and development experience in communities throughout the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario. Our experience and practice are divided between private and public sector clients, giving us a balanced perspective.

Our reputation is built on undertaking rigorous analyses of planning issues and presenting clear articulate planning and economic policy positions. Officials in municipal jurisdictions cooperate with us because they know and respect our approach and our work.

We are well known for our quick attention to our clients’ needs.

About Scott Burns
Scott has been the Principal of Scott Burns Planning Consultants (SBPC) since May 2003. Prior to starting SBPC, Mr. Burns has been a partner with consulting firms, the Director of Planning for a major real estate developer and a senior planner for the City of Toronto.

As a professional planner and economic developer with over 30 years experience, 'Mr. Burns has provided private and public sector clients with credible advice, including: large, complex planning and development approvals; expert testimony and policy development; and small-scale planning projects. He is a recognized expert in planning and economic development issues related to urban employment areas.

Scott is an active participant with the Toronto Board of Trade, the Economic Developers Association of Canada, the Urban Development Institutes and Lambda Alpha, an international land economists society.

About Fern Betel
Fern has been a planning consultant for over 12 years experience and has been working with Scott since 1997. Fern’s experience includes general planning analyses, preparing and facilitating development applications and coordination with the consulting teams, City staff, Councillors, public agencies and the public. She undertakes the needed research, prepares and coordinates the required reports and makes presentations at regulatory and public meetings. Fern’s work experience has also included the preparation of Environmental Impact and Assessment Statements. This work involved the assessment of potential project impacts on land use, economic conditions, waterfront revitalization, traffic and transportation and other areas.

Fern has had extensive involvement in Ontario Municipal Board hearings where her work includes providing expert testimony, research and preparation of evidence, documents and presentation materials for OMB hearings, Witness Statements, Outlines of Evidence and associated planning reports and documentation.