City of Surrey's 2024 Annual Financial 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 four divisions:

BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION Business Transformation provides general administrative support services, records management, information technology enablement and support. DEVELOPMENT PLANNING 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 land development applications, making appropriate recommendations for land development projects, and preparing reports to Council.

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 Protection Bylaw and sign bylaws. COMMUNITY PLANNING Community Planning & Sustainability 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 By-law amendments, and monitors the City’s growth management and Community Engagement strategies.

2024 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Prepared and presented 231 planning reports to Council on development applications • Initiated a new NCP for Latimer/196 Street SkyTrain Station • Continued to advance SkyTrain related Neighbourhood Concept Plans (“NCPs"), including updates to the Fleetwood Plan • Continued to support provincial housing legislation by putting forward seven corporate reports to transition single-family zoning to small-scale multi-unit housing zoning for in-stream applications • Put forward regulatory bylaw amendments and Zoning By-law amendments to ensure seamless implementation of provincial housing legislation on the mandated timeline set by the Province • Introduced new permit approval targets aimed at reducing processing approval timelines by a minimum of 30% across most permit types, including townhomes, low rise, high-rise, and trade permits

• Introduced new Zoning By-law amendments to provide streamlined delivery of temporary real estate sales centres

• Initiated the implementation of the automated zoning compliance system (Archistar), to increase the quality of submissions through a self-serve computer based pre-approval process • Initiated the review of incorporating pre-approved plan options for Accessory Dwelling Units ("ADUs") (coach house, garden suites, etc.) and 6-storey buildings • Established the Development Inquiry Assistant, an AI-powered chatbot to help customers find information at any time of the day • Proposed City Centre Office Policy Amendments in order to respond to changing market conditions and new provincial legislation • Established a process for the issuance of early excavation building permits for multi family housing

• Introduced new OCP amendments to institute a simplified DP process for houseplexes

• Continued to support the implementation of the online permit portal and digital permit processing, providing new and enhanced permitting abilities across multiple permit types, improving transparency, access, and efficiency for applicants • Launched the multi-family and complex building permitting portal • Completion of the online inspection request module, providing full online inspection request capabilities across electrical, plumbing and building permits • Worked with Engineering to update the DCC bylaw and introduced a DCC fee exemption for affordable housing projects

19