Halifax planning department takes up to a year to review development requests: AG

Halifax's auditor general says "significant improvements"are needed withinthe planning department to speed up the development application process.

Under Halifax's charter, development applications should be reviewed byplannerswithin 60 days.

The auditor general's office looked at six files between January2016 and December2017. Those files took between 109 and 347 days.

"Changes are needed," said EvangelineColman-Sadd,HRM'sauditor general,"There are inefficiencies in the system."

A report with 10 recommendations was presented to the city's audit and finance committeeon Wednesday, including one for a standard policymanual.

"There's no common idea of when a site-plan application is consideredcomplete no policy on whichHRMdivisions should be involved in a review and no standard timesto complete their reviews," saidPaulFlinn, the audit director.

Councillorson the audit and finance committee were not surprised bythe news because they have heard complaints from the developmentcommunity.

"Very disappointing, but not shocking," said Coun. Matt Whitman.

"It's not that we don't have good people," said Mayor Mike Savage. "I hear we have very good people. But we have to streamline the process."

JacqueDub, Halifax CAO,said the time period when the auditor generaldid the review of the planning department was particularly challenging. There were more than 40 vacancies at a time when there were a largenumber of complex applications.

"There was a lack of resources and we've taken measures to address it,"saidDub.

The new head of the planning department said all 10 recommendationsshould be implementedwithin 12 months.

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