City of Toronto Building and City Planning changes will affect heritage issues: Geoff Kettel

David Juliusson has forwarded the following message:

This has an effect for Heritage issues. Read on. I have bolded the relevant section.

Toronto Building and City Planning divisions adopt new technologies to enhance service deliveryThe City of Toronto continues to enhance customer service for its customers. Today [June 20, 2013] at the Planning and Growth Management Committee meeting, City Planning and Toronto Building staff made a presentation about their adoption of new technologies that make doing business with the City more efficient.”With the electronic service delivery enhancements made by the Building and Planning divisions, we have improved access to several popular services and eliminated more than 10,000 trips to City Hall and Civic Centres,” said Mayor Rob Ford.

Toronto Building, the City division that receives and reviews applications for building permits
implemented new technology for the electronic review of plans last November. This technology allows for all permit applications for new projects to be received and reviewed electronically, and for permits to be issued by email or on a re-writable DVD (depending on the size of the issued permit package file).

Since the implementation, more than 15,000 permits have been reviewed and delivered electronically (90 per cent delivered by email).

A simplified and automated information sharing process between clients, partners and other City divisions, such as City Planning, eliminates the need for paper copies to be distributed to those required to review an application. This enhancement leads to a more efficient service for customers.

Owners of Toronto’s 10,000 heritage properties are among the first to benefit from the enhanced capabilities of electronic service delivery. Heritage Preservation Services, part of City Planning, worked with Toronto Building to design and implement a streamlined approval process for applications that require both building and heritage permits.

Now, instead of navigating a cumbersome two-step process, customers can take advantage of a system that allows integrated electronic submission and approvals. The system streamlines communication among the divisions, allowing for faster response times and improved customer service.

Since February 2013, about 840 permit applications for heritage buildings have been reviewed, with the majority receiving heritage clearance within three business days.

For more information on Toronto Building’s electronic applications, visit http://www.toronto.ca/building/esd.htm

—
Geoff Kettel
Community Connector, Advocate and Consultant

“There are places I remember, all my life

Though some have changed

Some forever, not for better

Some have gone and some remain”

John Lennon, 1965