New home under construction (photo /Vernon Matters)

By Kevin Rothwell

Staff burning out

Developers frustrated with Vernon City Hall delays

Mar 9, 2021 | 5:11 PM

Vernon’s planning and development departments are being overwhelmed, and developers are getting upset about the length of time permits are taking.

“We have a backlog in planning and it’s only going to get harder to keep within our turn- around time for permits. I think now is the time we need to fund two additional full-time planning positions for the city,” Coun. Akbal Mund said.

Mund also pitched to extend the contract of a temporary planning position for one year. He indicated the revenue the city would see coming back would more than support the positions within two years.

“We recognize that there is a shortage of planning department and we always seem to be short staffed. Now more than ever, with interest rates being low, builders and developers are looking to invest in our community, and one of the things that holds them back is the delays,” Coun. Dalvir Nahal said. “I spoke to someone on the weekend that has been working on a project for four years, and is beyond frustrated.”

Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming was concerned about the additional tax impact the additional positions would have.

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“I would be quite comfortable with funding the contract position from the development excess revenue reserve,” Cumming said. “There are lots of people hurting in 2021 and we have got to to be very cautious in terms of our increasing of tax rates in 2021.”

Ultimately council supported Mund’s motion for fund a contract position for one more year from the development excess reserve. The two new positions estimated at $280,000 would be funded with $100,000 from non-market tax growth, and $140,000 in increased taxation.

The tax increase amounts to .43 per cent, which combined with a previously approved 2.13 per cent tax hike, would mean an overall rate increase for 2021 of 2.56 per cent.