Mayor Kelly Linton says it seems like building permits are way up in Centre Wellington this year.
In fact, building permits for the first six months of 2015 are up roughly $12-million compared to the same time last year.
According to the semi-annual building report from Centre Wellington’s chief building official Randy Bossence, the building division continued to experience steady building permit activity from Jan. 1 through to June 30.
His report noted that in the first six months of the year, 401 building permits, with a total construction value of $52,391,125.
This compared to 312 permits, with a total construction value of $40,133,980, for the first six months of 2014 and 290 permits, with a total construction value of $46,150,680, for the first six months of 2013.
Bossence said Centre Wellington continues to have construction activity occurring across all major construction sectors with particular strong activity in the agricultural, residential and residential miscellaneous.
He said building permits issued in the first six months of 2015 have included the following projects:
– construction of a 127,048 sq. ft. industrial building addition and related site services at Nexans Canada Inc. in Fergus with a construction value of $7,500,000.
– construction of a building addition to the existing Ontario Nutri Lab Inc. building located on First Line (former West Garafraxa Township) with a construction value of $1,200,000.
– Construction of a new four storey 55-unit rental apartment building on Westminster Crescent in Fergus (RHC Design Build) with a construction value of $7,500,000.
Bossence said new residential building permit activity was strong in the first six months of 2015 with 67 permits issued having a construction value of $28,460,580.
This compares with 57 permits issued with a construction value of $23,559,891 for the first six months of 2014 and 55 permits with a construction value of $13,429,000 for the first six months of 2013.
Bossence said “the biggest point I’d like to make about this report is that construction is very active in Centre Wellington – more active than even I thought it would be.”
“Permits are way up and construction values are way up. Building inspections are way up. Everything is up.”
He laughed “even bylaw complaints are up.”
Councillor Steven VanLeeuwen asked how this was affecting staff workload.
Bossence said “it is at that critical point where it is very challenging – but we’ve managed well to this point.”
But he added “we’re quickly going to hit the wall with what we can handle.”
CAO Andy Goldie plans include the hire contract help to assist because of the workload levels “to get us through the busy period.”
Councillor Fred Morris asked how the proposed development North West Fergus development was moving along,
Bossence anticipated seeing a draft plan within the next month or so – but construction is unlikely until next year.
On the proposed development on the east side of Fergus there is considerable work to be done, but it too could involve construction next year.
Bossence noted the premise behind building permit fees is a user pay service and 100% cost recovery and not relying on tax dollars.
“If we need to increase staff to a more appropriate level it would be recovered through an increase in building permit fees which we haven’t seen in Centre Wellington since 2011.”
Bossence said he anticipated proposing a fee increase to council this fall.
