At their meeting on June 24th, Council endorsed the proposed Development Application Process Review report, and directed staff to proceed with the immediate short-term priorities identified. In 2023, in response to continued and sustained high levels of development, the City retained Neilson Strategies, to undertake a detailed assessment of the Development Application Process Review (DAPR). The DAPR was undertaken to identify opportunities to improve the efficiency and responsiveness of the existing development approvals system and find opportunities to enhance and align customer service with industry expectation and standards. 

Based on existing staff priorities and initiatives and to bring forward projects with the potential for the greatest improvement, staff recommends moving forward with the following as immediate short term (within next 16 months) priorities:  

1. Digitization and modernization of Development Application Processes;  

2. Alternative Public Notification;  

3. Delegation of Minor Development Variance Permits;  

4. Replacement of Development Agreements with Servicing Agreements; and  

5. Development Application Team (DART) Terms of Reference Review 

Additional information can be found in the  full report by City staff.