Planning, Development & Community Services Decisions in Brief
From the April 4, 2016 Meeting
6.2.2 2015 Annual Report – Development Appeals Board
Decision
*The Committee has forwarded the report to City Council for information.
Background
*In 2015, 46 appeals were filed with the board – an increase over 2014 when 40 appeals were received. The scope of appeals in 2015 focused on development or building permit refusals.
7.1.2 2015 Annual Report – Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo
Decision
*The Committee received the report.
Background
*The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo (SFFP&Z) admissions set a record with 145,420. Annual overall facility usage number of guests of 285,162 is also an increase from 2014.
*The SFFP&Z continues to receive excellent community support from four volunteer organizations.
*The SFFP&Z has five reserves established for future expenditures. These reserves are well positioned for the 2016 operating year.
7.1.5 2015 Annual Report – Municipal Golf Courses
Decision
*The Committee received the report.
Background
*The accomplishments of municipal golf courses in 2015 included increased attendance from 2014 and significant generation of revenue from power carts, pull carts, the driving range, retail golf shop sales, and Club6Pack sales.
*In 2015, transfers to reserves exceeded budgeted amounts, resulting in a transfer of an additional $93,500 to the Golf Course Capital Reserve.
*The challenges in 2015 included an extended period of air quality issues, due to smoke from forest fires, and significant rainfall in September.
7.1.6 2015 Annual Report – Development Review Section
Decision
*The Committee received the report and has forwarded it to the Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee and the Municipal Planning Commission for information.
Background
*In 2015, 1,502 Development Permits, 20 Discretionary Use Applications, 37 Official Community Plan/Rezoning Applications, and 82 Subdivision Applications were reviewed.
*Zoning Bylaw No. 8770 was amended to further the implementation of the Neighbourhood Level Infill Development Strategy.
*The Andrew Boyd House (803 9th Avenue North) was designated as a Municipal Heritage Property.
*The Saskatoon Register of Historic Places (Register) was approved by City Council.
7.1.7 The Business Profile – Annual Report 2015
Decision
*The Committee received the report.
Background
*A total of 1,243 new businesses were licensed in 2015, bringing the total number of licensed businesses to 10,659.
*Of the 10,659 total licensed businesses, 58% (6,176) are commercial/industrial, and 42% (4,483) are home-based.
*The total number of licenses businesses increased by 2% since 2014 and by 46% since 2005.
7.1.8 2015 Year-End Report – Building Standards Division
Decision
*The Committee received the report.
Background
*The number of building permits issued in 2015 was 4,327. In 2014, 4,996 building permits were issued. The value of construction associated with the number of building permits issued in 2015 was $1,020,394,000; significantly higher than the value of construction of $878,238,000 associated with building permits issued in 2014.
*The year-end balance for the Community Services Department Plan Review and Inspection Service Stabilization Reserve increased by $2,000,205 from the 2014 reserve balance. As a result, the balance in the Reserve was $8,042,211 as of December 31, 2015.
*Building Standards continues to manage fiscal responsibilities by reviewing fees associated with programs and services offered to ensure division operations are aligned with Building Standards’ cost recovery model.
*The issuance of building permits for one-unit dwellings on single-family lots continue, on average, to be less than the 5 business day performance target in 2015.
*There were 32,867 building and plumbing inspections performed in 2015.
7.1.9 2015 Year-End Report – Neighbourhood Planning Section
Decision
*The Committee received the report.
Background
*The Neighbourhood Planning Section is involved in a wide variety of programs and services that help revitalize core neighbourhoods, improve safety, increase attainable housing, and improve urban quality in the City Centre.
7.2.1 Employment Areas Study
Decision
*The Committee recommended City Council receive the report and that policy directions for employment areas be brought forward for further consideration as part of a proposed implementation plan for the overall Growth Plan to Half a Million.
Background
*The Employment Areas Study is a related component of the City’s Growth Plan to Half a Million and is focused on ensuring that existing and future employment areas contribute to making Saskatoon a healthier, more sustainable, attractive, and accessible place to live and work.
*The Saskatoon Speaks Community Vision and the Strategic Plan goals for Sustainable Growth and Moving Around are the basis for the goals for employment areas.
*The Study includes an employment projection, which indicates that there is generally sufficient land available within the proposed Growth Plan to support employment growth to 500,000 people.
*Existing policies and plans that shape employment growth were reviewed to identify any gaps or inconsistencies in current planning practices that may limit the City from achieving the goals for future employment areas.
*The Study recommends a number of future policy directions centered on achieving employment areas that are well designed, accessible by all transportation modes, and located closer to where people live, while retaining a strong city centre that is the focal point of commerce in the city and region.
7.2.2 City-Wide Office Development Policy Review
Decision
*The Committee recommended to City Council:
1. That the report be received;
2. That Administration enter into discussions with commercial urban reserves;
3. That discussions be held with the development community (including but not limited to commercial realtors and developers, BID, SREDA, Ideas Inc.); and
4. That the Administration report its findings regarding the proposed numbers in the report to the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services.
Background
*A strong office market is an important component to a healthy and vibrant City Centre.
*Saskatoon’s suburban and Downtown office vacancy rates are consistent with those of other resource-based jurisdictions in western Canada (Calgary, Edmonton, and Regina).
*The City Centre has an extensive range of advantages that support office development, but also has some challenges related to construction and occupancy costs, parking cost and availability, and perceptions of safety.
*A review of the City’s office policies and those of other jurisdictions showed a wide range of approaches to support City Centre office development. All jurisdictions reviewed, except Saskatoon, restrict offices in industrial zoning districts to some extent.
*Proposed limits on total area of new business parks, maximum office size limits in industrial areas, combined with modest incentives and process changes, will ensure that the City’s regulations, programs and procedures align with its policy supporting City Centre office development.
7.2.3 Saskatoon Hilltop Football Club Inc. Clubhouse Project
Decision
*The Committee recommended to City Council that the request by the Saskatoon Hilltop Football Club Inc. to construct a new clubhouse at Kilburn Park be approved in principle, subject to Administrative conditions outlined.
Background
*The City has a Lease Agreement with the Saskatoon Hilltop Football Club Inc. that outlines, among other things, conditions and approvals required to replace the existing clubhouse.
*The Hilltops organization was seeking approval to construct a new clubhouse at Kilburn Park.
7.2.4 Arena Partnership – Request from University of Saskatchewan to Contribute to Proposed Twin Pad Ice Facility
Decision
*The Committee recommended to City Council:
1. That the Administration be authorized to negotiate a contribution agreement wherein the City would provide a $1.0 million capital contribution to a twin pad ice facility on the University of Saskatchewan property, based on the contribution agreement recognizing ongoing community access to the facility; and
2. That upon conclusion of the negotiations, the Administration bring forward the proposed agreement for the Committee’s consideration.
Background
*The University of Saskatchewan is requesting a capital contribution from the City to help support the construction of a new twin ice pad facility (ice arena) to be built on the University property near the Saskatoon Field House.
7.2.6 Hosting Block Parties
Decision
*The Committee forwarded the report to City Council for information.
Background
*Residents, with the support of their neighbours, can host a block party by following a short application process and submitting a nominal application fee.
*General liability insurance is strongly encouraged for block parties and would be the responsibility of the block party organizers.