BANFF – Building permit revenue in Banff is at an all-time high.
The planning and development department had budgeted about $300,000 in building permit revenue for 2019, but year to date the money generated from 93 building permits is $810,000. That compares to $77,000 in building permit revenue last year.
“Half of this is from just two development building permits: the Homestead and the Voyageur Inn, so it really shows you that a couple of projects can make a big difference,” said Dave Michaels, the Town of Banff’s manager of development services.
“We knew they were coming down the line so we had budgeted for them, but when we budget it’s hard to know exactly what the value of construction is gong to be, which is what permit revenues are based on.”
In addition, there were three other large redevelopments: a 36-unit residential development on the 400 block of Cougar Street, redevelopment of the Eric Harvie Theatre, renamed the Jenny Belzberg Theatre, and redevelopment of the Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Banff Springs hotel.
“Those large building permits and development permits all came in this year, so it’s really hard for us to budget and forecast for those things, because we just don’t know,” said Michaels.
It looks like this year will also see the highest total value of construction based on building permit information at $74 million year-to-date. However, this is close to the 2017 total value of construction at approximately $70 million.
“Interestingly enough, it would appear that the average value of a construction based on building permit information for 2019 is approximately $800,000 per permit, which is far above last year at approximately $125,000 per permit, but very similar to 2009, 2014 and 2017,” said Michaels.
Built into activity revenue for the planning and development department is off-site levies, which were significantly up this year too.
“We originally budgeted $90,000, but again, with some of the development we’ve seen, that has increased to $240,000,” said Michaels.
The high volume of redevelopment in Banff stretched staff capacity throughout the year, but adding to the challenge was the high staff turnover within the planning and development department.
While the department has been restructured, only two of nine employees are in the same job they were in back in January.
Randall McKay has been interim town manager since August; Chad Townsend, the environmental services manager, and Jennifer Laforest, the heritage planner, both left permanently.
There was also the temporary loss of a business licence clerk on maternity leave as well as transition of a contract building inspector with another department.
“It’s been a year of tremendous activity in the development world within the community, but also significant change within our department,” said Darren Enns, the Town’s director of planning and development.
“Collectively the cumulative loss of knowledge on our team was a staggering 46 years this year, so that’s been something that’s been a real challenge.”
That said, the department is ready to tackle 2020.
“We managed to make it through the challenges of 2019 and come out with a cohort of staff that are well prepared to meet the challenges of 2020 and beyond, and help council achieve their strategic priorities,” said Enns.
