When planning a new development, or expanding an existing one, there are a few hurdles to overcome, including bureaucracy. However, a team assembled at North Bay’s City Hall, which includes some outside partners, is making it easier for developers to get the answers they seek.
The Development Application Review Team (DART) allows all necessary departments to sit down with the developer and discuss issues all at one table, and all at one time.
“It was initiated quite a few years ago,” said Peter Chirico, the city’s managing director of community services. “So when a developer, builder or someone wants to expand a business and comes in with an application, we assemble everyone.
“From the development side of things, it has reduced the bureaucratic red tape, and the focus was to reduce that. And through that, we speed things along.”
The team was initiated in 2003 and reviews all development applications including site plan control agreements, committee of adjustment applications, official plan amendments, rezoning, subdivision and condominium applications.
“The development community has been pleased with the process, because it allows us to say ‘we can do this and this’ or ‘we can’t do this and this is why’ and we can figure out how we can get around it,” said Jerry Knox, the city’s CAO.
“It works extremely well. We do it all the time now and we promote it as one of the ways we make it easier for developers to move forward with their projects and it reduces a lot of running around.”
Developers from outside the community have commented positively on the process and the practice distinguishes North Bay from other communities.
“Before the team, people would come in and see planning and we would tell them to check with building, and then go check with engineering. So people would be wandering through city hall. So instead of that, we just bring them all together,” said Beverley Hillier, manager of planning services.
Developers are also required to see agencies outside of city hall, such as the conservation authority, hydro and the Ministry of Transportation. These outside partners are also part of the DART and it has helped the city to develop relationships with them.
The planning department arranges and co-ordinates the meetings.
“It’s a great pre-consultation for someone who is just thinking about a project, and before they go spend some money on getting their project designed, or on engineers,” Hillier said. “They can come in before they do all that and say they are thinking about this and we can determine if there is a major red flag. It’s a really good approach to dealing with development.”
The process also helps establish internal team building with the various departments at city hall.
“There is always a tendency to work in your own world, so this forces people into relationship building internally and also with external partners,” said Chircio. “It bodes well for the whole organization and we are very proud of it.”
