The City of Delta, which has been exploring avenues to enhance its development process, recently received a grant from the provincial government through the Local Government Development Approvals Program.
The city received $500,000 to further develop application process streamlining.
The province notes the program funding is for projects that represent a wide range of actions local governments have identified that will help them improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their development approval process, allowing them to better meet the needs of their communities.
Projects include everything from conducting internal reviews of current development approvals processes, upgrading to online development application platforms and developing workshops or seminars to help developers better understand the application requirements.
The province has been reviewing local development approval processes, working with city governments and the Union of BC Municipalities.
Aimed at finding ways to streamline the development process and reduce red tape, Delta’s Mayor's Task Force on Building Permits and Development has already been exploring various ideas, already having brought some to the council table.
One of the changes, for example, already approved, gives the community planning director and deputy director the authority to approve third reading extension requests for rezoning applications, without having to go to council for approval.
