Daniel Greenhalgh Responds to Review of Development Approvals Process

(Newswire.net — February 28, 2019) Langley, BC —

Last fall, B.C.’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Selina Robinson, announced that the province is undertaking a Development Approvals Process Review to assess how local government development approval processes are working in B.C.

The review was spurred largely by advocacy from the Urban Development Institute. In an April 17th, 2018 meeting, Robinson met with representatives from UDI and ensured her commitment to addressing the massive delays in processing permits for new developments.

The review, according to UDI’s newsletter, “will consider all stages from concept to occupancy, including subdivision, rezoning, development and building permits and key aspects of those stages, including submission requirements, public hearings and education.”

UDI’s president, Anne McMullin, stresses that delays mean less inventory, less choice, and ultimately higher prices for buyers. Those higher prices are further driven up by permitting fees and taxes, which account for up to 30% of the cost of an average unit in Vancouver.

Robinson organized a Development Approvals Review Working Group made up of a diverse committee of housing, local government and planning experts. One of the members, the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, welcomes any input from our industry. They can be reached here.

Daniel Greenhalgh, ENM’s co-founder, commends Robinson and UDI for working together to address these delays.

“Right now, permits for purpose-built rentals take about the same time to process as market-rate condos. That has to change. We know that the biggest priority for both renters and developers is an increase in the supply of rental housing. There has to be a streamlined permit review process for rental housing and affordable housing projects, along with further incentives for developers to take them on.”

UDI has had success in working with the City of Vancouver to implement improvements in the development process. Over the last two years, the city reports a 50% reduction in development permit timelines as part of an affordable housing pilot, with initial approval now under 13 weeks. We hope that their efforts can provide similar results province-wide.

 

(Newswire.net — February 28, 2019) Langley, BC —