2017 Finance Annual Report

CITY OF SURREY OVERVIEWS PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

The primary functions of the Planning & Development Department are to prepare land use plans, bylaws and policies for consideration by City Council; and undertake application reviews and approval processes consistent with Council-approved plans, bylaws and policies in support of planned, orderly and sustainable development of the City. The Department’s mandate is accomplished through activities of the following five divisions:

AREA PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT, NORTH & SOUTH Area Planning & Development implements Council-adopted bylaws, approved secondary plans, and policies in relation to the use and development of land. This work involves receiving and reviewing applications and making appropriate recommendations for land development projects and preparing reports to Council. ADMINISTRATION & SPECIAL PROJECTS Administration & Special Projects provides general administrative support services, records management, budgeting, information technology deployment and support, Enterprise Content Management implementation and customer service. BUILDING Building administers Council adopted bylaws and policies related to building construction. This work involves servicing residential and commercial building plan reviews, performing building, plumbing and electrical field review services, and the administration of the Tree Preservation Bylaw and sign bylaws. The Building division is also responsible for providing professional advice on building construction related matters to City Council, the Board of Variance, other City departments and the public.

CIVIC FACILITIES Civic Facilities plans, designs and constructs new facilities, and maintains and operates the City’s existing building inventory, which includes redeveloping and modifying buildings, and administering an ongoing preventative maintenance program. The division leads energy saving initiatives throughout the City, including lighting and HVAC system upgrades. COMMUNITY PLANNING Community Planning develops land use plans and policies in support of the planned and orderly development of the City. The division administers the Official Community Plan (OCP), General Land Use Plans, Neighbourhood Concept Plans (NCP), Local Area Plans, zoning bylaw amendments and monitors the City’s growth management strategies. Community Planning also supports the Heritage Advisory Commission, Environmental Advisory Committee, Agricultural and Food Security Advisory Committee and the Social Planning Advisory Committee. The division provides graphic and mapping services for the department and supports the corporate Geographical Information Systems (GIS) services.

2 0 1 7 A C C O M P L I S H M E N T S

• Completed energy efficiency upgrades at 25 existing city facilities. • Initiated the Heritage Thematic Framework. • Continued as staff liaison to the Social Planning Advisory Committee and to the Heritage Advisory Commission. • Completed the South Surrey Operations Centre, increasing the efficiency for road, drainage and parks maintenance in that area. • Received grants from Federal Government for 15 projects and completed all projects successfully within tight timelines. • Completed HVAC upgrade for the Surrey Art Gallery to increase rating to allowable displays, and save energy.

• Initiated review of the Sunnyside Heights NCP. • Created the new Quarter-Acre Residential Zone. • Continued to develop a sustainable implementation fund for small granting programs for the community, focused on the Sustainability Charter 2.0 themes. • Successfully obtained FCM project funding and launched the Newton Sustainability in Action pilot planning process to develop a neighbourhood sustainability action plan in collaboration with the Newton community. • Continued ongoing support and staff liaison to the Agriculture and Food Security Advisory Committee and the Development Advisory Committee. • Hosted the 2nd Annual Pie in the Plaza event to promote agricultural awareness.

• Completed All Our Relations Social Innovation Strategy, Phase 2 of the Surrey Urban Aboriginal Partnering Strategy. • Completed the improvements of the remaining space at the former City Hall building to accommodate the growth of the RCMP. • Continued implementation of the multi— year Local Immigration Partnership (LIP). • Implemented the Refugee Integration Strategy. • Initiated the Affordable Housing Strategy. • Updated the City Centre Density Bonus Policy. • Completed Stage 1 of the South Campbell Heights Plan and Stage 2 of the Abbey Ridge Plan. • Completed the Downzoning Process Guidelines.

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