Burnaby was named the “best-run city in Canada” by Maclean’s magazine in 2009, but the municipality has since fallen from planning grace for its slow development approvals process (DAP) according to new reports from KPMG.
The reports on the approvals process, by financial consultants KPMG, said the city has “begun to lag” with regard to the DAP.
The reports found that staff are positive and “willing to help,” but in a city with an “ambitious development agenda” there is an “out-of-date way of working” that frustrates staff, developers and the public.
KPMG found that development application volumes are increasing as Burnaby densifies from a suburban to urban city without an accompanying increase in staff.
The report stated that “institutional knowledge is held by long-serving members of staff,” with no formal “how to” guides on the process or the related roles.
With more than 25 permit processes linked to the city’s approvals process, long approval timelines have delayed new developments.
Applicants (developers applying for rezoning) are not clear on the different requirements that vary between cities and use technology that is either outdated or “highly manual,” according to the report.
Recommendations include the creation of a single point of contact and project coordinator, creating and refreshing documentation and mandating the use of a licence and permitting system for all related departments.
As a result of the report, council approved three new full-time staff positions, along with one part-time position.
The KPMG report was funded by the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) development approvals program, which provided $500,000. The review sought to reduce approval times and simplify the approvals process.
