BUSINESS PLAN: Land Use Planning

Transcription

1 BUSINESS PLAN: Land Use Planning How does this service contribute to the results identified in the City of London Strategic Plan? A strong economy A vibrant and diverse community A green and growing City A sustainable infrastructure A caring community Investors, developers, other orders of government, and the public at large are all served through land use planning. This service includes longterm planning as well as application processing. Land use planning services are provided to allow for positive growth and development, while protecting the City's most valuable resources, shaping the City's image, providing for healthy communities and attracting investment. Name the main activities done to provide this service: Name The Activities Done To Provide This Service How Much Did We Do? (optional) Is The City Mandated To Provide This Service? Can The Level Of Service Be Changed? 1. Planning Application Processing 66 planning applications in 2012 Yes Yes 2. Official Plan Policy Development and Research Approx. 20 policy-related reports to PEC in 2012 Yes Yes 3. Urban Design Panel reviewed 35 submissions in 2012 No Yes What is the current state of this service? Goals and targets for Activities provided through this Service are established through applicable Provincial legislation [Planning Act; Environmental Assessment Act; Municipal Act; etc.], direction in the City of London s Official Plan, and referrals from City Council to address emerging trends and opportunities. Tasks assigned within the Activities have created a work program that has exceeded, for many years, the capacity of the staff complement. Staff are involved in numerous Activities in several service areas since the Planning Act states that where an Official Plan is in effect, no public work shall be undertaken and no by-law shall be passed for any purpose that does not conform with it. These challenges are met in the frequent monitoring of the work program to reprioritize tasks and projects, most recently in a November 2011 PEC Report. In addition to the standard Activities listed above, a significant current pressure point is that all staff are also leading the ReThink London Program, a program of several policy analysis components and public consultation events that comprise the statutory comprehensive review of the Official Plan, that will lead to a new 20 year-year plan for the City of London. Page 256

2 Recent Achievements ReThink (20-Year Official Plan Review) launched Downtown Master Plan adopted Petersville/Blackfriars Conservation District study launched Downtown London Heritage Conservation District approved Urban Growth Boundary evaluation completed Industrial Lands Development Strategy Phase I adopted Accessory Dwelling Unit policies submitted Southwest Area Plan adopted BIGS (Beaufort Irwin Gunn Saunby) study adopted Old South Heritage Conservation District adopted McCormick Area Study adopted Old Victoria Hospital Lands Secondary Plan adopted and Old Victoria Hospital Lands development and disposition plan finalized London Psychiatric Hospital Secondary Plan OMB approval Near Campus Neighbourhoods policies and zoning by-law regulations OMB approval Manual & Procedures revised for Review of Planning Applications Urban Design Peer Review Panel Terms of Reference revised Streetscape Legacy Projects completed for 2013 World Figure Skating Championships Handled many difficult and complex planning applications What is the future direction of this service? This service is primarily driven by the municipality s responsibilities in administering planning services in conformity with the procedures and timelines in the Planning Act, related statutes, and regulations. It also is driven by Council s strategic directions regarding goals for cultivating economic investment and quality community development. Tasks assigned in furthering all these responsibilities create a work program that has exceeded, for many years, the staff complement available to undertake them. Consulting budgets potentially available to help offset this imbalance have been reduced from former levels. These resource challenges are unlikely to diminish in the years ahead. New Official Plan will introduce greater flexibility, while placing more emphasis on economic development, City building, more effectively linking transit to land use, urban design, place-making, sustainable development practices and mixed use development. Page 257

3 What do you plan to do? 2014 Re-structure to create a specific planning unit that performs Central Area Planning and Revitalization (supporting infill and intensification) Complete new Official Plan Begin re-structuring of City-wide zoning by-law to increase flexibility and streamline development processes Complete Old Victoria Hospital Lands Development Plan and begin implementation Complete Petersville/Blackfriars Conservation District study Develop an urban civic spaces program Undertake customer satisfaction measures survey Implement zoning by-law in conformity with new Official Plan Develop staff training programs and community information forums to explain/implement new Official Plan Educate, communicate and facilitate on infill and intensification Identify funding and evaluate organizational options for implementation of the Downtown Master Plan Continual improvement and streamlining of planning application processes Develop plans for, and facilitate development of rapid transit corridors and transit villages Monitor industrial land development strategy and plan accordingly The following data demonstrates that London is an Ontario leader in delivering an efficient planning application process we have been cited as a best practice in reports submitted by consultants to Guelph and Kingston. The 2013 audit of planning processes by PwC also recognized the efficient process that is delivered for planning applications. That said, the Planning Division will seek ways to compress the time it takes to receive, review, and report on this information by improving work practices and distributing the planning application work program. Key Performance Indicators Description of measure Number of Planning Applications Per Year How Much? Page 258

4 2. Median application time (days)for Official Plan/Zoning Applications 350 How Well? Combined Official Plan/Zoning Applications: Days from Accepted to Committee OZ Applications Days from Accepted to Committee Median 120 Days Notes: 1) Application timeframes are based on the period between the date of formal acceptance of application to consideration by a planning committee of Municipal Council. 2) The 180 day period is pursuant to Section 22, Subsection of the Planning Act 0 Jan-2009 Jul-2009 Jan-2010 Jul-2010 Jan-2011 Jul-2011 Jan-2012 Jul-2012 Jan-2013 Jul-2013 Date Application to Committee Page 259

5 3. Median application time (days) for Zoning By-Law Amendment Applications 300 How Well? Zoning By-Law Amendment Applications: Days from Accepted to Committee ZBA Applications Median Days Days from Accepted to Committee Notes: 1) Application timeframes are based on the period between the date of formal acceptance of application to consideration by a planning committee of Municipal Council. 2) The 180 day period is pursuant to Section 22, Subsection of the Planning Act 0 Jan-2009 Jul-2009 Jan-2010 Jul-2010 Jan-2011 Jul-2011 Jan-2012 Jul-2012 Jan-2013 Jul-2013 Date Application to Committee Is Anyone Better Off? Above statistics also reflect the timing of development proposals to the market faster planning application times mean more immediate construction, assessment growth and employment. Page 260

6 2013 Revised Budget Land Use Planning Summary of Submitted 2014 Budget ($000's) 2014 Draft Budget Increase / (Decrease) Over Previous Year Service Expense Non Tax Net Property Tax Supported Expense Non Tax Net Property Tax Supported Expense Non Tax Net Property Tax Supported Prop. Tax Supported (%) Land Use Planning 3,139 (260) 2,879 3,297 (290) 3, (30) % Total to Maintain Existing Service Level 3,139 (260) 2,879 3,297 (290) 3, (30) % Service Adjustments Submitted % 2014 CITY PLANNING & RESEARCH AS SUBMITTED 3, % Note: All figures are subject to rounding Budget Highlights: $ 000 % Maintaining Existing Service: Increase required to support collective agreements such as personnel and office rent. Increases in energy costs, memberships and travel and conventions. Increase in User Fees as per PwC audit recommendations % Increase/ (Decrease) over prior year budget % Page 261

7 Land Use Planning 2014 Budget As Submitted ($000's) Explanation of Adjustments 2014 Maintain Revised Service Requested Actual Existing Budget Adjustments Budget Service Object Expenditures $ % Personnel Costs 2,228 2, , % Administrative Expenses % Financial Expenses % Purchased Services % Materials & Supplies % Furniture & Equipment % Total Expenditures 3,155 3, , % User Fees (264) (260) (30) (290) (30) 11.5% Other Municipal s (148) % Sub-total - Non Property Tax (412) (260) (30) 0 (290) (30) 11.5% Net Budget 2,744 2, , % Additional Information / Commentary with respect to 2014 Draft Budget Maintaining Existing Service Levels (Flow through from prior years, inflation, contractual obligations, efficiencies) Increase in salary, wage and fringe benefits due to existing employment agreements. Estimated increase in office rental rates. Increase of 7% in energy rates anticipated. Increase in User Fees as per audit recommendation. Increase/ (Decrease) Over 2013 Increase in subscriptions and memberships for required professional memberships and an increase in travel and conventions reflecting actuals. Page 262

8 Budget Forecast Land Use Planning Budget Forecast & Staffing ($000's) to Revised Requested Projected Forecast Forecast Forecast Forecast Object Budget Budget Increase Expenditures 3,139 3,297 3,348 3,396 3,445 3, Non-Property Tax (260) (290) (296) (302) (308) (314) (54) Property Tax Supported (Net Budget) 2,879 3,007 3,052 3,094 3,137 3, Increase / (Decrease) Over Prior Year Increase / (Decrease) Over Prior Year % 4.4% 1.5% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 10.5% Annual average increase: 2.0% Staffing Full-Time Equivalents # Increase / (Decrease) Over Previous Year Full-Time Employees # Increase / (Decrease) Over Previous Year Note: Above FTE counts do not include the impact of assessment growth cases. Additional Information / Commentary: Annual increase of 1.9% applied to personnel expenses for existing employment agreements and a 2% inflationary increase applied to all non-personnel expenditure accounts and program adjustments. Page 263