Quote:
Originally Posted by Bunk
Developers currently pay for Outline Plans, Development Permits, Building Permits, etc. Planning and Development is primarily self-sustained from fees. Council decided to allow them to pay for ASPs too because they were willing to. City still hires the staff, executes and approves the plan, so it won't really be any different from today, but taxpayers won't be footing the bill. ASPs are also not anymore going to be the "gateway" to open of land for new development as they have up until now. The Growth Management Framework's prioritization criteria will be the new mechanism.
What developer-funded ASPs will do is free up more resources to try and catch up with the massive backlog of ARP work that is needed in inner city communities.
Transit of course is a big priority for the Mayor - have a read through the RouteAhead Plan - as it's implemenented everyone will have much, much better transit service, including the inner city.
www.routeahead.ca |
I'll believe it when I see it. This city is always trying to plan for the next 30 years even though we have no idea what the city needs in the next 5 years. Planners already have a hard enough time standing up to developers, and most of those funds are related to application fees are they not?
My worry is that the developers will use this as a hook to steamroll proper planning and city design. The existing planners definitely see it that way.