President's Message
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AUGUST 2017 NAIOP Photo credit: davebloggs007 President’s Message Welcome to NAIOP’s Government • Advocating for streamlined and City Council has approved changes Affairs Commitee newsletter. Here evidence-based regulations across to the Downtown Parking Strategy you will find important information the planning continuum; and (bringing about an end to cash-in- on government initiatives that affect • Several new City of Calgary-led lieu), and introduced the Centre Calgary’s commercial real estate initiatives. City Enterprise District to streamline industry. development approvals. Our Achievements NAIOP’s Government Affairs Furthermore, NAIOP continues to Committee is composed of established Together with other industry groups promote industry interests in other leaders within Calgary’s commercial real including BOMA and BILD Calgary initiatives, including the new Guidelines estate sector, dedicated to improving Region, NAIOP has successfully for Development in Proximity to Rail, conditions for their industry. The advocated for positive changes that the forthcoming City Charters, and committee members volunteer their time benefit our city’s development industry. recent proposed changes to Calgary’s to participate as stakeholders on behalf Urban Design Review process. of NAIOP members to provide feedback The ongoing Industry/City Work Plan on public initiatives. continues to identify improvements to Thank you for your continued support. local planning and regulatory processes In this issue, read about our committee’s which reduce costs and uncertainty, Peter Zorbas work on: while improving communication President, between stakeholders. NAIOP Calgary Chapter • Reviewing urban development [email protected] processes, fees, and timelines; Following successful NAIOP advocacy, WeAreNAIOP.com AUGUST 2017 1 In this issue Calgary Industry/City Work Plan 02 Development in Proximity to Rail 05 Health Impact Assessment 07 New Community Growth 03 Green Line Update 06 Alberta Strategy Urban Design Review Panel 06 Establish Area Strategy 03 MGA Review and City Charters 08 Industrial Strategy 03 Climate Smart Cities Study 06 Continuous Process 03 New CPC Report Procedure 06 Improvements Corporate Approvals Team EXPO 07 Centre City Non-residential Property Tax 07 Downtown Parking Strategy 04 Accessibility Certification 07 Centre City Levy 04 Centre City Enterprise Area 05 Development Permit Extensions 07 Industry/City Work Plan The third progress report on the This was a direct result of the 2016 off-site changes to improve the efficiency of Industry/City Work Plan was levy bylaw, which industry representatives Calgary’s planning process. The previous submitted to City Council in supported in exchange for a commitment to six initiatives have been condensed into June 2017, highlighting progress ongoing dialogue on critical issues. four, with corresponding working groups over the previous six months. established under a City of Calgary Several projects, initiatives, and Administration was to collaborate with developer advisory committee. These process improvements have been industry on six key initiatives: establishing current initiatives are: New Community implemented through the Work a developer advisory committee, phasing Growth Strategy, Established Area Strategy, Plan to reduce delays and increase growth/land supply, established area Industrial Strategy, and Continuous Process certainty for industry. strategy, funding growth, process Improvements. Each working group is improvements strategy, and industrial composed of industry representatives, In early 2016, City Council directed strategy. including NAIOP, and members of City Administration to review key land Administration. development challenges and opportunities in Over the past year-and-a-half, the Industry/ partnership with private sector stakeholders. City Work Plan has reviewed and suggested Photo credit: Uli Harder WeAreNAIOP.com AUGUST 2017 2 The Established Area Strategy working Acceptance Certification (FAC) processes. New Community group focuses on reducing the costs, Mid-term initiatives include uniting Calgary timelines, and barriers to redevelopment in Economic Development, NAIOP, BILD Growth Strategy established communities. Accomplishments Calgary Region, and other stakeholders to date include greater reporting detail to educate Calgarians on the importance Key initiatives include: reviewing on Centre City Levy funds, an exhaustive of industrial growth and its connection to the Growth Management Overlay inventory of Development Permit-stage lower residential property taxes. Another (GMO) removal process, potentially fees and charges, and a pilot water utility initiative being explored is a tailored levy to allowing Outline Plans to proceed mapping project in a single Calgary reflect lower water and sewage requirements prior to securing infrastructure community (Killarney). The working group in industrial areas, and the ‘double-dip’ for financing, and exploring is moving forward to evaluate the Centre library and recreation centre levies on both infrastructure financing alternatives. City Levy, letters of credit (security) charges home and business owners. and fees, as well as expanding the utility The New Community Growth Strategy pilot project to two more neighbourhoods working group examines appropriate ways in 2017. In addition, the working group to fund and manage new urban growth. This is examining central industrial areas for Continuous Process includes reviewing how the City’s Growth the purposes of increasing light industrial Improvements Management Overlay (GMO) is used in growth. Calgary’s inner city industrial areas relation to Outline Plans and land use are under increasing pressure to redevelop Key initiatives include: changes applications. From industry’s perspective, into non-industrial uses. to the Construction Completion Outline Plans should be allowed to proceed Certificate/Final Acceptance in advance of infrastructure funding. This Certificate process, standardizing could significantly improve planning process Industrial Strategy CPAG comments and conditions, efficiency, given the extended timelines and compiling CPAG staff contact needed to secure financing. City Council will Key initiatives include: monitoring information. be discussing the proposal at their July 31 industrial land supply, and meeting. improving transportation The Continuous Process Improvements infrastructure serving industrial working group examines the entire The working group has also implemented areas. Future work will focus on development process to identify improvements to the GMO removal reviewing sanitary pipe sizes, and enhancements serving both customers and process, as well as criteria for the same. City exploring development levy changes The City. Reducing delays and uncertainty Administration has received evaluated eight to better reflect the lower servicing is a key focus area. A review of the GMO removal proposals from industry. requirements in industrial areas. Construction Completion Certificate/Final Other key initiatives include infrastructure Acceptance Certificate (CCC/FAC) process prioritization (completed in Q4 2016 The Industrial Strategy working group has been completed and improvements are and Q1 2017), and exploring alternative is evaluating ways to improve Calgary’s now being implemented. A standardized land servicing funding arrangements. industrial development process and the city’s library for comments and conditions Funding through front-ending agreements overall competitiveness as an inland port. To has been compiled to provide additional (Construction Finance Agreements) is being inform future work, the working group has clarity to private sector stakeholders. As discouraged. The working group is seeking compiled an industrial land supply report well, a database of CPAG generalists and creative methods to advance development detailing land use and ownership patterns. specialists has been created to ensure ease of where the infrastructure is not currently City Council has also approved funds communication. budgeted for by The City. toward enhancing the Glenmore Trail and 68 Street SE intersection to improve goods movement within the southeast industrial area, as well as enhancements to Airport Established Area Trail and Country Hills Boulevard in the northeast industrial area. Future work will Strategy focus on reviewing sanitary pipe sizes in industrial areas, and moving forward with Key initiatives include: increased the development of a complete industrial reporting transparency for strategy for Calgary. development levy funds, monitoring Development Permit-stage fees and Short-term initiatives include: a simplified levies, and capacity mapping for change of use process, and better water utilities. administration of the Construction Complete Certificate (CCC) and Final Photo credit: Bill Longstaff WeAreNAIOP.com AUGUST 2017 3 Centre City Downtown Parking Strategy Downtown office developers will the first time in over 30 years that industry is completed, the remaining cash-in-lieu soon be allowed to build parking has successfully advocated for changes to funds will be exhausted. Existing City- to full Land Use Bylaw ratios. downtown parking regulations. owned parkades will be maintained to honor This is a significant achievement previous parking reductions made under the for development advocates, and a The cash-in-lieu program is being cash-in-lieu program. positive change for industry. concluded. Instead, developers will have the option