Jonathan Tinney, the City of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 head of planning, is the man developers face when trying to get plans approved at city hall.
He takes pride in his departmentB次元官网网址檚 work, but is quick to give both his staff and the developers full credit for the climate of co-operation that exists these days between the two groups in Victoria.
B次元官网网址淲hat weB次元官网网址檝e created is really a partnership with the development community,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e are all about achieving the cityB次元官网网址檚 policy goals in a way that benefits everyone B次元官网网址� the developers, citizens and neighbourhoods B次元官网网址� the city as a whole. For us itB次元官网网址檚 not about saying B次元官网网址榥oB次元官网网址� to developers, itB次元官网网址檚 more about figuring out what we all need to do so we can say B次元官网网址榶es.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
He explained how changes in the cityB次元官网网址檚 approach started a few years ago when it hosted a development summit where staff and developers shared perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for improvement. The process allowed for the nurturing of a mutual understanding and the start of a partnership approach to getting things done.
B次元官网网址淚 think both parties have a much better understanding of the needs and limitations governing the various processes involved in getting a project done,B次元官网网址� said Tinney.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 where co-operation can truly start.B次元官网网址�
Rob Jawl of Jawl Properties is very supportive of the cityB次元官网网址檚 approach. He confirmed there appears to be a good understanding on the part of city staff of challenges facing developers. He is quick to emphasize the spirit of co-operation does not translate into a capitulation of the city to the desires of the development community.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important to say that process efficiency is not synonymous with rubber stamping of plans. The city has managed to maintain the balance between nurturing growth and development, while still considering land use practices,B次元官网网址� Jawl said.
According to Justin Filuk with Vancouver-based Townline, one of the firms behind Hudson Walk Two, that co-operation is partly behind the current construction boom in the city.
B次元官网网址淭ake the turnaround time for building permits and rezoning applications for example. When we do work inVancouver or Burnaby, that process can take two years to get our approvals. Our experience in Victoria is a turnaround time of six to eight weeks. ThereB次元官网网址檚 just no comparison,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淚 think credit is due to both the elected officials and the staff in what theyB次元官网网址檝e managed to accomplish. There is certainly still work that can be done and improvements that could make the process still better. But the word has gotten out there and weB次元官网网址檙e seeing Vancouver-based developers taking another look at Victoria and making the decision to come here to take on projects.B次元官网网址�
