Setting the Agenda 2010

5 Responses to “Planning and Development”

1. mjclogan Says:
   November 18, 2009 at 8:36 am | Reply

   Getting a development permit as a private homeowner is torturous, even if you know what you’re doing. A new Council must expedite the , but go beyond that to make getting a permit beneficial. Start with something as simple as keeping the service desks open past 4:15 pm.

   It’s in everyone’s interest (especially the City’s) for building stock to be safe and sound.

2. Malton Says:
   November 19, 2009 at 11:05 pm | Reply

   Perhaps if the Urban Planning department and the Permit offices weren’t so understaffed there would be more development and more money flowing into the city’s coffers?

3. bikeroo Says:
   November 20, 2009 at 11:32 am | Reply

   The creation of a complete streets policy should be considered. Several cities in the US have implemented such policies with success and cities such as Toronto definitely need one. Planning and land use can benefit greatly from such a policy which can help guide the development of more holistic streets.

4. Ken Says:
   November 20, 2009 at 10:40 pm | Reply

   Save the money: close the planning department. Let the city evolve naturally!

   • Ken Wood Says:
     November 22, 2009 at 2:33 pm | Reply

     Do that and within a decade you will see concrete absolutely everywhere, buildings blotting out the sun, fire services overwhelmed due to inadequate access and buildings collapsing.

     Planning often gets it wrong because they are not given enough time or resources to consult the communities affected by change, but they do try to preserve a semblance of common sense and thoughtfulness about end results.

     The only change I’d make to planning is to staff an arm with communications-savy, human relations professionals and not try to make do with technical staff, engineers, etc to interface with the public.