Coun. Foster raised his concern when a staff recommendation was brought forward to the planning committee Aug. 12 that outlined new pre-consultation procedures for planning applications within Lincoln.

The recommendation would require an amendment to town's official plan, under which pre-consultation would need to be completed with all stakeholders in the case of any applications for building subdivisions or condominiums, for site plan and consent requests and for further official plan or zoning bylaw amendments.

Town staff's report to the committee acts on a provincail recommendation, which suggests that pre-consultation be done to prevent delays in the application process.

The Region of Niagara has indicated its intent to include other relevant agencies in the process, namely, the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC), which is in charge of development of lands within the escarpment boundaries.

The report follows a memorandum signed by the regional government, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and all of the Niagara municipalities to create clear guidelines for regional development.

Coun. Foster referred to a motion passed by Lincoln council recently that called for the role of the escarpment commission to be more clearly defined specifically in its role of being more of a regulatory authority for the environment.

The NEC should leave planning matters to municipalities, he said.

He said he is particularly concerned that the region is now recommending that the commission be referenced for development in the town if it is within proximity to the escarpment.

"(The region) is basically saying the NEC is important enough that they should be referenced even when they clearly have no jurisdiction. I'm just surprised and possibly a little nervous with that," he said.

Kathleen Dale, the town's director of planning, suggested the commission would only be involved with planning matters that are adjacent to the escarpment or that involve lands that are subject to the commission.

Since the recommendation calls on the town to include the commission in Lincoln's planning process, Coun. Foster asked if in return the town would be involved in the commission's planning process for development on the escarpment.

"There are certain buildings that are going up on the Niagara escarpment that just don't make sense," he added.

Mrs. Dale replied saying the commission would reference Lincoln when needed.

"They take our comments depending on their own purpose," Mrs. Dale said.

The issue was not discussed at Monday's council meeting because "some battles aren't worth fighting," said Coun. Foster Monday night.

The recommendation was passed Aug. 18.