ROYAL DISTRICT PLANNING COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT 2008 … · Royal District Planning Commission Annual Report 2008 Preface The Royal District Planning Commission (RDPC) was established

ROYAL DISTRICT PLANNING COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT

2008

The Honourable Roland Haché Minister of Environment

Mayors and Councils of the Municipalities of the Royal District Planning Commission

Honourable Minister Ladies and Gentlemen

The Royal District Planning Commission hereby respectfully submits its Annual Report of Activities for the Year 2008

Theresa Teakles Patricia Munkittrick Chairperson Director

March 5, 2008

Royal District Planning Commission Annual Report 2008

Total of Contents Preface 1.0 Commission Members.................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Chairperson’s Report...................................................................................................... 2 3.0 Director’s Report............................................................................................................. 3 4.0 Committee Reports.......................................................................................................... 4 4.1 Long Range Planning Committee................................................................................... 4 5.0 Subdivision Development............................................................................................... 5 6.0 Building Activity............................................................................................................. 7

6.1 Overall Building Activity................................................................................... 7 6.2 Saint John County.............................................................................................. 10

6.2.1 Village of Saint Martins........................................................................ 10 6.2.2 Local Service Districts.......................................................................... 10

6.3 Kings County East.............................................................................................. 10 6.3.1 Village of Sussex Corner...................................................................... 10 6.3.2 Local Service Districts.......................................................................... 10

6.4 Kings County West............................................................................................ 10 6.4.1 Village of Norton.................................................................................. 10 6.4.2 Local Service Districts.......................................................................... 10

6.5 Queens County................................................................................................... 11 6.5.1 Village of Cambridge Narrows............................................................. 11 6.5.2 Village of Gagetown............................................................................. 11 6.5.3 Local Service Districts.......................................................................... 11

6.6 Building Permits for Electrical........................................................................... 11 7.0 Planning........................................................................................................................... 12

7.1 Status of Rural Plans.......................................................................................... 12 7.2 Working Group Participation............................................................................. 13 7.3 Status on the Five-Year Operational Plan.......................................................... 13

8.0 Geomatics........................................................................................................................ 15 9.0 Employee Professional Development............................................................................. 17 Appendix: Auditor’s Report


Preface The Royal District Planning Commission (RDPC) was established by a Ministerial Order under the provisions of the Community Planning Act of the Province of New Brunswick. The Commission is governed by a board consisting of members appointed by municipal partners and the Province, as represented by the Minister of Environment. The Commission’s powers and responsibilities are outlined under Section 7(2) of the Community Planning Act. These generally include:

• Development and administration of rural plans, and building and subdivision by-laws

• Approval of new subdivisions • Planning advice to municipalities, rural community committees, and the

Minister of Environment • Issuance of building permits • Inspection of new development and buildings

The Commission is responsible for educating municipal councils, rural community committees and the general public with respect to land use and environmental issues, planning, and the National Building Code. It liaises with community representatives and develops partnerships with the communities it serves. The benefits of being a member of the Royal District Planning Commission include:

• The costs of providing services are shared among participating members. • Communities have access to trained professionals employed by the Planning

Commission. • The community has input in local planning matters through the RDPC Board of

Commissioners as well as direct access to the staff. • Planning activities and land use issues are viewed from both a macro and micro

perspective. • Coordination at the District level.

The Commission’s operations are overseen by an appointed board of fifteen members, including seven members representing the District’s five municipalities and eight members representing the unincorporated areas of the District. Since its formation in 1998, the Commission’s responsibilities have expanded along with the necessary resources to operate. The original staff of five people included the Director, a Planner/Development Officer, a Building Inspector/Development Officer, a Geomatics Specialist, and the Administration Officer. The present staff complement includes eleven people: the Director, Administration Officer, two part-time Clerk/Receptionists, three Planners, three Building Inspectors/Development Officers, and one Geomatics Specialist. As funding allows, the Commission may hire additional temporary staff for special initiatives.

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1.0 Commission Members

Left Side from front to back: Walter Pollock, Unincorporated Areas

Dr. Arie A. Ruitenberg, Village of Sussex Corner James Moran, Village of St. Martins

James McCrea, Unincorporated Areas

Right Side from front to back: Julie Booth, Village of Norton

Ronald Brown, Unincorporated Area Janice Perry, Village of Gagetown Daryl Prince, Unincorporated Area

Walter Riedle (Vice Chair), Village of Sussex Corner

Back Row from left to right: Tom Nisbet, Village of Cambridge-Narrows Theresa Teakles (Chair), Village of Norton

Lee Fraser (Secretary),Unincorporated Areas

Not in Picture Reg Manzer, Unincorporated Areas

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2.0 Chairperson’s Report The Planning Commission had another busy year in 2008 in both the planning and bulsing inspection divisions. Due to planning staff shortages, progress on Rural Plans was slower than anticipated. However, throughout 2008 work continued on six Rural Plans, including the Upper Kennebecasis Rural Plan, the Sussex Corner Rural Plan, the Lower Kennebecasis Rural Plan, the Saint John Tributaries Rural Plan, the Simonds Rural Plan, and the Gagetown Rural Plan. The Village of Sussex Corner Rural Plan was adopted by the Village Council and took effect in October 2008. In terms of building activity in 2008, there were 728 permits issued with a construction value of over $39 million. This was a 26 percent increase over 2007. In March 2008, the Commission said goodbye to seven Commissioners, Marylou Wiggins, Joan Seely, Fred Deveau, Alaina Lockhart, Ralph Fowler, Janelle Arsenault and Nelson Ball and five new Commissioners joined including James McCrea, Ronald Brown, James Moran, Daryl Prince, and Julie Booth. As a result of such a large turnover of Commissioners, many of the standing committees within the Commission were not reestablished. As well, the Commission is investigating a new format of policy governance to ensure the sustainability of the Commission in the future. The provincial report on Local Governance, prepared by Jean-Guy Finn and often referred to as the Finn Report, was released on December 18th. This report, among other things recommends the creation of 12 regional service districts and the dissolving of the district planning commissions as we know them today. The government has stated they would not be acting on the recommendations in the near future. The executive for the year included myself (my seventh year as Chair) Vice Chair Walter Riedle, and Secretary Lee Fraser. Submitted by, Theresa Teakles, Chair

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3.0 Director’s Report 2008 was a challenging year with record development rates and staffing shortages. Increased development activity has kept the Building Inspectors/Development Officers, Wayne Mercer, Brian Shannon, and George Paulin very busy this past year with construction values up by 26% and the number of permits up 19% over 2007. Details of development activity can be found in sections 6 and 7 of the Annual Report. In early 2008, planner Karen Neville moved into the Senior Planner position. RDPC had two vacant planner positions to fill in 2008. In part because there is no professional planning school in New Brunswick, all planning commission and municipal planning offices find it difficult and highly competitive to recruit planners. Conor Tripp joined the staff in June 2008 followed by Elissa Gollan early in 2009. Reduced planning staff complement in 2008 resulted in a slow down in planning objectives in this past year. Return to full staff complement means that all planning projects are up and running once again. Details on the status of various planning projects can be found in section 7 of the Annual Report. In addition to developing and maintaining land use, environment, and resource related data bases and mapping, and providing information support to staff (detailed in section 8 of the Annual Report), Geomatics specialist Gerald Legacy began what will be an annual project of mapping and photographing some key areas subject to flooding. This visual and digital record will serve as an important historical record, useful in preparation of rural plans and the evaluation of development proposals. Deborah Johnson joined the staff as a part time term employee in the fall of 2008 to provide reception assistance. RDPC’s front desk is now covered by Debbie Johnson and Donna Kennedy. Bev Wilcox continues to provide administrative and accounting services for RDPC. A series of information brochures were developed in 2008 and these will make an important contribution to RDPC’s public information/education objectives. A series of ten brochures will assist property owners and developers in understanding the planning process as well as pointers on how to protect our environment. Topics covered in the brochures include an introduction to the role and function of the Commission, the building permit and inspection process, the subdivision and rezoning process, and a series of four brochures on how to protect our groundwater (drinking water) and surface waters (streams, lakes, and wetlands). These documents are circulated through the RDPC offices and website, Rural Plan Open Houses, our partner municipalities, and watershed groups. Submitted by, P. Munkittrick, Director

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4.0 Committee Reports 4.1 Long Range Planning Committee The Long Range Planning Committee is elected from the members of the Royal District Planning Commission and is charged with overseeing the content and production of the Commission’s Five Year Operation Plan. The most recent version was adopted by the Commission in March 2004. The Committee also monitors longer-term issues for impacts on the Commission. The Committee met six times during 2008. The Long Range Planning Committee under the auspices of the Commission and in partnership with the Canann-Washademoak Watershed Association has completed the first phase of a groundwater study for the Canaan-Washademoak watershed and is about to embark on the second phase. This is a pilot for a greater project to eventually complete a detailed groundwater assessment of all areas within the jurisdiction of the RDPC. The information collected will be used by the Commission and its planners to aid in protecting our water quantity and quality. The members of the Committee continue to display their selfless dedication to improving land use planning and development in our district. The Committee includes: Dr. Arie Ruitenberg, P.Geo. – Sussex Corner James McCrea - Wickham Ron Brown – Apohaqui Lee Fraser P. Eng. - Kingston Tom Nisbet – Cambridge-Narrows (Chair) Patty Munkittrick – Director Submitted by, Tom Nisbet, Chair

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5.0 Subdivision Development In 2008, RDPC approved a total of 150 subdivisions, involving the creation of 207 building lots. Unincorporated areas accounted for 93.2% of total approvals and municipalities made up the remainder. The most subdivision activity occurred in the Local Service Districts of Waterborough, Studholm, Hampton, and Sussex. In unincorporated areas, 136 subdivisions were approved creating a total of 189 building lots. The fourteen municipal subdivision approvals resulted in the creation of 18 building lots. The Village of Saint Martins was the only incorporated area that did not experience a subdivision approval in 2008. The total number of subdivision approvals represents a 23 percent decrease from the 255 lots created in 2007. For a breakdown of the number of subdivisions and lots created throughout the District please refer to Exhibit 5.2.

Figure 5.1 2008 Distribution of New Lots

Kings East LSDs 27.05%

Queens LSDs 20.77%

Saint John LSD 8.70%

St. Martins 0%

Cambridge Narrows 4.35%

Gagetown 1.93%

Norton, 1.45% Sussex Corner 0.97%

Kings West LSDs 34.78%

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Exhibit 5.2 2008 Subdivision Approvals

Location

No. of Subdivisions

No. of Building Lots

Percent of Total Lots

Villages Sussex Corner 2 2 0.97% Norton 3 3 1.45% Cambridge-Narrows 5 9 4.35% Gagetown 4 4 1.93% St. Martins 0 0 0.00% TOTAL VILLAGES 14 18 8.70% Local Service Districts Kings East Cardwell 11 10 4.83% Hammond 2 2 0.97% Havelock 0 0 0.00% Studholm 15 20 9.66% Sussex 9 17 8.21% Waterford 3 7 3.38% Total Kings East LSDs 40 56 27.05% Kings West Hampton 16 19 9.18% Kars 3 7 3.38% Kingston 11 10 4.83% Norton 8 10 4.83% Rothesay 1 0 0.00% Springfield 8 11 5.31% Upham 4 7 3.38% Westfield 7 8 3.86% Total Kings West LSDs 58 72 34.78% Queens Brunswick 3 8 3.86% Cambridge 2 2 0.97% Johnston 5 9 4.35% Waterborough 10 24 11.59% Wickham 3 0 0.00% Total Queens LSDs 23 43 20.77% Saint John Saint Martins 5 5 2.42% Simonds 10 13 6.28% Total Saint John LSDs 15 18 8.70% TOTAL LSDs 136 188 91.30% GRAND TOTAL 150 207 100%

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6.0 Building Activity

6.1 Overall Building Activity

In 2008 RDPC issued 728 building permits, 16% more than the 611 permits issued in 2007. The total value of construction was $39.2 million, an increase of over $8 million or 26% from 2007. Exhibit 6.1 provides a breakdown of construction activity by sector. Residential and related construction (dwellings, cottages, garages, sheds, etc.) comprised approximately 83.37% of total construction in 2008. Commercial/industrial and agriculture comprised 7.46% of the construction, and public or institutional buildings were 9.17%.

Exhibit 6.1

Building Activity by Sector – 2008

Building Value of Percent

Location Permits Construction of Total

Kings County East Residential (including accessory

buildings) 199 9,416,010 68.07%

Commercial and Agricultural 22 1,185,800 8.57%

Public Buildings 7 2,687,000 19.42% Other 5 545,000 3.94%

Total 233 13,833,810 100.00%

Kings County West Residential (including accessory

buildings) 213 13,933,199 88.77%

Commercial and Agricultural 5 971,000 6.18% Public Buildings 6 792,267 5.05%

Other 0 0 0.00%

Total 224 15,696,466 100.00%

Queens County Residential (including accessory

buildings) 181 5,798,665 96.28%

Commercial and Agricultural 6 181,000 3.00%

Public Buildings 6 43,000 0.72% Other 0 0 0.00%

Total 193 6,022,665 100.00%

Saint John County Residential (including accessory

buildings) 72 3,558,362 95.46%

Commercial and Agricultural 4 49,000 1.31%

Public Buildings 1 80,000 2.15% Other 1 40,000 1.08%

Total 78 3,727,362 100.00%

TOTAL BUILDING PERMITS Residential (including accessory

buildings) 662 32,706,236 83.27%

Commercial and Agricultural 41 2,386,800 6.07% Public Buildings 19 3,602,267 9.17%

Other 6 585,000 1.49%

GRAND TOTAL 728 $39,280,303 100.00%

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Exhibit 6.2 provides a detailed breakdown of 2008 construction in individual LSDs and Villages. Kings County West had the highest level of construction activity in 2008 with 39.96% of the total value, followed by Kings County East with 35.22%, Queens County with 15.33% and Saint John County with 9.49%. 15.72% of total construction occurred in the five villages and 84.28% in the Local Service Districts.

Exhibit 6.2 2008 Building Activity (compared with 2007)

2008 2007

Location Building Permits

Value of Construction

Percent

Value of Construction

Percent

Saint John County St. Martins Village 11 $236,100.00 0.60% $34,200 0.11% Saint Martins 15 $1,190,900.00 3.03% $1,227,020 4.09% Simonds 52 $2,300,362.00 5.86% $3,385,500 11.27% Total 78 $3,727,362.00 9.49% $4,646,720 15.47%

Kings County East Sussex Corner Village 54 $2,924,400.00 7.44% $1,334,830 4.44% Cardwell 33 $1,058,000.00 2.69% $1,315,440 4.38% Hammond 11 $2,600,500.00 6.62% $1,315,440 4.38% Havelock 13 $1,058,000.00 2.69% $723,000 2.41% Studholm 65 $3,247,100.00 8.27% $2,986,105 9.94% Sussex 49 $2,717,500.00 6.92% $2,163,433 7.20% Waterford 8 $228,310.00 0.58% $1,273,500 4.24% Total 233 $13,833,810.00 35.22% $11,111,748 37.00

Kings County West Norton Village 24 $1,286,138.00 3.27% $1,460,150 4.86% Hampton 36 $1,882,100.00 4.79% $2,212,700 7.37% Kars 17 $746,000.00 1.90% $302,900 1.01% Kingston 43 $4,149,440.00 10.56% $3,138,200 10.45% Norton 15 $1,366,000.00 3.48% $702,000 2.34% Rothesay 7 $273,000.00 0.70% $108,000 0.36% Springfield 54 $3,704,288.00 9.43% $170,000 0.57% Upham 20 $835,500.00 2.13% $1,276,268 4.25% Westfield 8 $1,454,000.00 3.70% $622,000 2.07% Total 224 $15,696,466.00 39.96% $9,992,218 33.275

Queens County

Cambridge-Narrows Village 43 $796,400.00 2.03% $807,700 2.69% Gagetown Village 32 $934,525.00 2.38% $705,563 2.35% Brunswick 10 $197,000.00 0.50% $137,000 0.46% Cambridge 34 $1,350,475.00 3.44% $641,500 2.14% Johnston 19 $445,750.00 1.13% $926,700 3.09% Waterborough 39 $1,684,415.00 4.29% $620,900 2.07% Wickham 16 $614,100.00 1.56% $443,887 1.48% Total 193 $6,022,665.00 15.33% $4,283,250 14.26%

GRAND TOTAL 728 $39,280,303.00 100.00% 30,033,936 100.00%

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Figure 6.3 Building Construction Values 2007/2008

$0 $500 $1,000 $1,500 $2,000 $2,500 $3,000 $3,500 $4,000 $4,500

Brunswick

Cambridge

Cardwell

Hammond

Hampton

Havelock

Johnston

Kars

Kingston

Norton

Rothesay

Saint Martins

Simonds

Springfield

Studholm

Sussex

Upham

Waterborough

Waterford

Westfield

Wickham

Cambridge-Narrows Village

Gagetown Village

Norton Village

St. Martins Village

Sussex Corner Village

Builiding Permit Construction Values ($'000)

2008 2007

Parishes

Villages

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6.2 Saint John County

6.2.1 Village of St. Martins

Eleven building permits were issued in the Village of St. Martins for a construction value of $236,100. This represented 0.60% of the total construction activity in district, and an increase of 85.5% from 2007.

6.2.2 Local Service Districts

The unincorporated areas of Saint John County include Simonds, Fairfield and Saint Martins LSDs. Sixty-seven building permits were issued in this area in 2008 representing a construction value of $3,491,262, or 8.89% of total building activity. This was a 32.1% decrease in construction from 2007. 6.3 Kings County East 6.3.1 Village of Sussex Corner Fifty-four building permits were issued in the Village of Sussex Corner for $2,924,400 of construction activity, representing 7.44% of total construction in the District. This was an increase of 95.4% over building activity in the Village in 2007.


Unincorporated areas in Kings County East include the Local Service Districts of Cardwell, Hammond, Havelock, Studholm, Sussex, and Waterford. A total of 179 building permits were issued in the six LSDs in 2008 for a construction value of $10,909,410 or 27.78% of total construction in the District. This compares to $10 million of building activity in 2007. 6.4 Kings County West 6.4.1 Village of Norton Twenty-four building permits were issued for the Village of Norton, representing a construction value of $1,286,138, or 3.27% of the total construction in the District. The value of construction decreased by 13.5% from 2007.


Unincorporated areas in Kings County West include the Local Service Districts of Hampton, Kars, Kingston, Norton, Rothesay, Springfield, and Westfield East. A total of 200 building permits were issued in the seven LSDs in 2008 for a construction value of $14,410,328, or 36.69% of total construction in the District. This compares to $9.8 million of building activity in 2007, representing a 31.7% increase.

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6.5 Queens County 6.5.1 Village of Cambridge-Narrows Forty three building permits were issued in the Village of Cambridge-Narrows for a construction value of $7,964,000, or 2.03% of total construction in the District. This was a 1.4% decrease in construction from 2007. 6.5.2 Village of Gagetown Thirty two building permits were issued in Gagetown representing a value of $934,525 of construction activity. This was an increase of 24.5% in construction from 2007. 6.5.3 Local Service Districts Unincorporated areas in Queens County include the Local Service Districts of Brunswick, Cambridge, Johnston, Waterborough and Wickham. A total of 118 building permits were issued in the five LSDs in 2008 for a construction value of $4,291,740, representing 10.92% of total construction in the District. This compares to $2.7 million of building activity in 2007, representing a 35.5% increase. 6.6 Building Permits for Electrical Separate building permits are issued for electrical upgrades and electrical changeovers for existing structures in cases where no structural building activity is taking place. These Building Permits for Electrical Only are forwarded to Safety Code Services before a wiring permit is issued to the electrician. A total of 213 electrical building permits were issued during the year.

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7.0 Planning 7.1 Status on Rural Plans Upper Kennebecasis Rural Plan The development of the Upper Kennebecasis Rural Plan has been ongoing since the fall of 2004. The Working group, representing LSD advisory committees and a cross section of other interests groups, has been meeting continually since 2004, and are commended for the dedication to this project. This past year there were extensive discussions with provincial planners from the Department of Environment and staff from the Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture. As the result of these discussions, revisions have been made to the draft Rural Plan by RDPC staff. It is hoped that a series of information sessions will be held in late winter to early spring to inform the public of the changes made to the draft Rural Plan. Upon the completion of these information sessions, a public hearing will be held. The Upper Kennebecasis Rural Plan could be in place as early as this summer. Over the past year, the Planners involved in this project included Patty Munkittrick, and Karen Neville. Lower Kennebecasis Rural Plan The Lower Kennebecasis Rural Planning Area includes the Local Service Districts of Norton, Hampton, Kingston, Rothesay, and the eastern portion of Westfield located in the Kingston peninsula. Due to staffing limitations, work in this project slowed during 2008. Staff is continuing the review of comments received on the draft Rural Plan since it was initially presented to the public. Once this review is complete, a revised RuralPlan will be presented to the Working Group for their input after which, a series of information sessions and a public hearing will be held. It is anticipated that the Lower Kennebecasis Rural Plan will be adopted by the winter. Over the past year, the planners involved in the project include Patty Munkittrick and Karen Neville. Sussex Corner Rural Plan Review Provincial Planning staff from the Department of Environment requested several changes to the draft Sussex Corner Rural Plan necessitating a second Public Hearing on the village’s Rural Plan. Council approved the new Rural Plan on September 9th and came into effect upon its registration on October 3rd, 2008. The planners that have worked on this project this past year have been Patty Munkittrick and Karen Neville. Simonds Parish Rural Plan Review Due to the resignation of the primary planners involved with this project in 2007, work on the review of the Simonds Parish Rural Plan has temporarily slowed. That being said, discussions with the working group did continue this past year. With the addition of a new planner in early 2009, it is anticipated that a draft Rural Plan will completed, circulated to various government departments, and discussed with the Working Group throughout this upcoming year. It is anticipated that a draft Rural Plan will be presented to the public this winter. Patty Munkittrick and Karen Neville were the planners responsible for this project in 2008.

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Saint John Tributaries Rural Plan The Saint John Tributaries Rural Plan includes a large geographic area covering the Local Service Districts of Kars, Wickham, Cambridge, Johnston, Brunswick and Waterborough. Planning staff presented its first draft of the Rural Plan to the Working Group for their input. During this review period the Working Group members showed great dedication to this project. As the result of these discussions, revisions were made to the draft Rural Plan. A land use inventory was completed for all of the Local Service Districts in the Planning Area. This information will assist in the creation of draft zoning maps for the Planning Area. It is anticipated that a draft Rural Plan will be circulated to various government departments for their comments this winter. Based on comments received, additional revisions may need to be made to the draft Rural Plan. Draft zoning maps will be completed this year, and these, along with the revised draft Rural Plan will be presented to the Working Group for their input. It is hoped that a series of open houses will be held in late fall to early winter to present the draft Rural Plan and zone maps to the public. With the approval of the province, a public hearing will be held. It is our hope that the Saint John Tributaries Rural Plan will be adopted early in 2010. Karen Neville, Patty Munkittrick, and Conor Tripp were the planners responsible for this project over the past year. Gagetown Rural Plan Review The review of the Gagetown Rural Plan began in the summer of 2008. The Village has established a committee consisting of Village Councilors and community members to work with Conor Trip and Patty Munkittrick on this review. At the suggestion of the Working Group, a series of Issue Papers have been prepared by Conor, reviewed by the Working Group, and then made available to the public to generate discussion. A land use inventory of the Village will begin early in 2009. This information will be used in the confirmation or revision of the draft zoning map for the Village. It is anticipated that the review of the Rural Plan will be completed this year. Over this past year, Conor Tripp, Patty Munkittrick, and Karen Neville were the planners responsible for this project. 7.2 Working Group Participation Staff of the Planning Commission would like to express our gratitude for the dedication and hard work being done by members of each working group toward the development of rural plans for their communities. Their local knowledge and thoughtful input provides significant input in the development of meaningful and effective Rural Plans which accurately reflect community needs and priorities. 7.3 Progress of the Five-Year Operational Plan In April of 2004, the Planning Commission adopted a Five-Year Operational Plan outlining the major objectives and priority areas for the development of rural plans throughout the District. Below is a chart outlining the planning priorities, timelines, and progress.

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Exhibit 7.1 Planning Priorities – 2003/08

Priority Areas Projected Timing

Progress

1. Village of St. Martins Start: 2002 Finish: 2004

Registered June 20, 2006

2. Village of Norton Start: 2003 Finish: 2004

Registered August 2004

3. Village of Cambridge-Narrows Start: 2003 Finish: 2004

Registered February 2006

4. Upper Kennebecasis watershed – five parishes: Cardwell, Waterford, Sussex, Studholm, & Havelock

Start: 2004 Finish: 2006

Awaiting approval of the Minister to set a Public Hearing date for the Spring of 2009

5. Lower Kennebecasis Watershed – four parishes: Westfield, Kingston, Norton & Hampton. (Rothesay Parish joined this process in the fall of 2006.)


Based on comments from the open houses held in 2007 revisions have been made to the draft Rural Plan. It is anticipated that Open Houses will be held in the Spring/Fall 2009

6. Village of Sussex Corner Start: 2004 Finish: 2005

Registered October 2008

7. Simonds LSD (Upham, Hammond, Fairfield and Saint Martins LSD’s opted out)


Completion of the initially introductory meetings. It is anticipated that a draft will be completed in the Spring and reviewed with the Working Group.

8.Saint John Tributaries Rural Plan (including the LSDs of Kars, Wickham, Waterborough, Brunswick, Johnston, & Cambridge. Springfield opted out.)


The first review of the draft Rural Plan was completed by the Working Group and revisions have been made. The revised Rural Plan will be circulated for government department comments. It is anticipated that Open Houses will be held in the Fall/Winter

It should be noted that the Village of Gagetown joined the Royal District Planning Commission after the Five Year Operational Plan was developed. Several of the planning priorities have exceeded the timelines outlined in the Five-Year Plan. This was the result of setting rather optimistic timelines given the work associated with each project. We also did not anticipate significant turnover in planning staff, prolonged discussions with various government departments, or the lack of public support for land use planning in some communities. The Five-Year Operational Plan in its entirety will be reviewed in 2009 at which point a new timelines and planning priorities will be set.

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8.0 Geomatics The following GIS activities and projects were carried out over the past year.

1) Upper Kennebecasis Plan Atlas Draft: Production of the Upper Kennebecasis Rural Plan maps Atlas Version (Revision).

2) Lower Kennebecasis Land Use Analysis: GIS analysis has been carried out to

support the planning process for the Lower Kennebecasis Planning Area. This has included mapping identification and overlays of agricultural lands, forestlands, mineral resource lands, pits and quarries, wetlands, watercourses, steep slopes, and environmentally sensitive areas. GIS techniques are generally being relied on for all aspects of the development of the Lower Kennebecasis Rural Plan

3) Saint John Tributaries Land Use Analysis: GIS analysis has been carried out to

support the planning process for the Saint John Tributaries Planning Area. This has included mapping identification and overlays of agricultural lands, forestlands, mineral resource lands, pits and quarries, wetlands, watercourses, steep slopes, and environmentally sensitive areas. GIS techniques are generally being relied on for all aspects of the development of the Saint John Tributaries Rural Plan.

4) Simonds LSD Land Use Analysis: GIS analysis has been carried out to support

the planning process for the Simonds LSD Planning Area. This has included mapping identification and overlays of agricultural lands, forestlands, mineral resource lands, pits and quarries, wetlands, watercourses, steep slopes, and environmentally sensitive areas. GIS techniques are generally being relied on for all aspects of the development of the Simonds LSD Rural Plan.

5) Village of Gagetown Plan Review: Completed the Village of Gagetown Rural

Plan map (Consolidation of amendments).

6) Village of Sussex Corner Plan Review: Review the Village of Sussex Corner Rural Plan map (Revision).

7) Linking Building Inspection Database to Mapping Database: The mapping

databases were updated, adjusted, and will be linked with the inspection database. With this setup we are able to maintain a property database with information on building construction and renovations, when this occurred, and inspection reports. All of this is done by using the building permit number as a key index number.

8) District Property Layer Upgrading: District mapping of property required

upgrading to maintain an accurate database. This work has been completed with property ownership and other information.

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9) Production of District Aerial Photo Inventory and Maps: The purchase of missing aerial photos was made to enlarge our coverage on the district. The aerial photos were purchased to complement and proof all mapping produced.

10) Production of District Aerial Photo Atlas: The purchase of missing aerial

photos was made to enlarge our coverage on the district. With these aerial photos an atlas has been generated to complement and proof all mapping produced.

11) Land base data extraction (GPS): The Saint John Tributaries LSDs were GPS

and digitized for future referral in the Saint John Tributaries Rural Plan.

12) Flood Plain Mapping Project: Various areas were mapped (GPS) during the high water season. The maps generated will be use as reference for a better understanding of which areas are prone to flood risks. This project will be repeated in the following years.

13) General Planning Support: GIS staff provides ongoing support to the

Development Officers in their administration of Rural Plans and Basic Planning Statements. This responsibility ranges from fairly heavy during the peak construction season to light in the off-season.

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9.0 Employee Professional Development Employee professional development is a high priority of the Royal District Planning Commission. The following summary describes training and conference activities by staff over the year. Atlantic Planners Conference – Charlottetown (Patty Munkittrick, Karen Neville, and Conor Tripp) The theme of this year’s annual conference was “Sustainability of Traditional Settlement Patterns in the 21st Century”. This conference tried to address questions like “Can traditional settlement patterns and economic activities meet the objectives of Atlantic Canadian traditions and the desire to develop modern, contemporary societies that can successfully compete on a global basis?” and “Are small, diverse and dispersed communities capable of competing against, or thriving with, the mega-centres that are the engines of the world’s economies?” One of the many highlights of this conference was the keynote presentation entitled “People and Places: The Evolving Basis of Small Community in Atlantic Canada.” This presentation examined the basis for community in the region and how we may gain insight into how to cope with current and future change by understanding why communities begin and how change historically affects them. The conference is an excellent opportunity to reconnect with past colleagues and develop new networks with planners throughout Atlantic Canada who are tackling many of the same planning issues that we are dealing with in the Royal Planning District. The Basics of Writing Policies and Procedures (Patty Munkittrick, Karen Neville, Theresa Teakles, and Daryl Prince) Some of the objectives of this workshop were to determine when a policy and/or a procedure is necessary, considering the needs of the end-users, and determining the desired outcome of a policy and procedure. The workshop will be an asset to planning staff as they develop and review rural plans, as well as providing the commissions some guidance as they review their policies and procedures. Leadership and Supervisory Skills for Women (Patty Munkittrick) This was a very timely course for Patty who recently took on the role of Director. This course taught participants how to communicate assertively, build credibility, and motivate colleagues. We learned various approached for addressing performance problems, handling confrontation, as well as the art of negotiation. This was an excellent introductory course for those new to supervisory roles.

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Access 2003 Level 1 – Database Design (All staff) This course in Access provided the staff the opportunity to learn how maintain and utilized RDPC’s existing database systems as well as how to create new databases. This course outlined how to store, view, extract, and present data in a well-organized format, as well as how proper planning can ensure the efficiency of a database. How to Handle Difficult People and Managing the Front Desk (Donna Kennedy) The goal of these two one-day workshops was to learn how maximize and utilize our position as the first point of contact in any business, and to identify and handle difficult people. Even though there were many people in attendance, the workshops were tailored to address our individual needs. The workshop began with everyone identifying their individual training goals and clarifying what they needed to learn. We were given hints and helps to make ourselves more efficient and our clients more satisfied. The instructor provided us with techniques and guidelines to effectively deal with the difficult people we encounter everyday. We were also taught how to deal with dangerous situations, and how to use aspects of our personalities to defuse potential problems. Subdivision Development in New Brunswick (Conor Tripp) The Subdivision Development in New Brunswick workshop provided by Lorman Education Services taught the standards, regulations, and legislation imposed by provincial and municipal authorities who govern issues such as land use, development standards, and roadway and infrastructure design. This workshop allowed the attendee to gain a better understanding of the approvals process and permit requirements, the various approaches to the subdivision process, and green neighborhood design and affordability considerations. Building Inspectors Training at Construct Canada (Wayne Mercer, George Paulin, and Brian Shannon) The three RDPC Building Inspectors attended the 20th edition of Construct Canada Conference and Trade Show. The conference and show offers exhibits, special features, how-to seminars and networking opportunities. Over 1100 exhibits provided up-to-date information on over 30 different categories of products, technologies, and services for the entire spectrum of building design, construction, retrofit, and renovation in commercial and residential construction, Construct Canada features the very latest in products, technologies, best practices and applications for the design, construction, operation, retrofit, and renovation of all types of buildings.

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Featuring over 450 speakers, 200 presentations and technical demonstrations the seminar program focused on a wide range of educational sessions on improving project delivery and smart business practices, leading edge technology for project design, green buildings, building environments and performance, building envelope solutions, legal, regulatory and risk management, professional and personal skills development. More than 23,000 visitors attend these shows including architects, builders, contractors, engineers, and inspectors along with building owners, facility managers, property managers, and interior designers. Between the three RDPC inspectors we attended twelve building sessions and heard expert advice on design, manufacturer’s installation requirements and problem solutions. Numerous live demonstrations on the show floor explaining new installation techniques were also taken in. Some of the training sessions attended inlcuded; Smart Exterior Walls: Stopping Air and Moisture Leaking into the Building Envelope A Building Envelope Checklist- A view of important areas of concern in overall building construction Designing Total Pre-cast Structures: Pre-cast tilt up concrete walls & Case Studies Getting it Right the 2nd Time Around: Creating Energy Savings by Re-Building the Envelope Correctly Important Roofing Decisions: Myths and Realities about System Performance, Maintenance, Repair and Re-roofing Energy Savings: The ICF Solution -The energy crunch has resulted in building codes that dictate energy requirements in new homes. Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF’s) is a solution that is continuing to grow in the market. This session looked at ICF use and performance. Mould, Moisture and Related Building Envelope Failures- Common building details that contribute to risk of water damage and mould growth were discussed to give an understanding of the visible signs and likely causes for high moisture levels. The presenter reviewed common misconceptions relating to building moisture problems. Slab-on-Grade Construction and Moisture Management: Avoiding Flooring Failures Window Wise Installation Method: Air and Water Leakage Resistance Study- Siding and Window Dealers Association of Canada (SAWDAC) has a proven durable, less costly approach for replacement windows in houses. This presentation outlined “Window Wise” way to install replacement windows, including results of recently completed field tests demonstrating the potential effectiveness of the method from coast to coast.

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New and Innovative Products for Homebuilders and Renovators - The existing economic climate has forced building construction materials manufacturers to develop products that respond to the needs of the public. This has created a very vibrant housing industry, CCMC sees many innovative products and systems submitted each day. The presentation focused on the developing trends in housing products and a look at products such as innovative insulations, foundation drainage products, roofing, sheathings and membranes. Included is a brief overview of the CCMC evaluation process and how it facilitates the introduction of these innovative products to market. The training and information gained from this Conference and Show will be very beneficial to the inspectors and to the clients we serve for the forseable future. With the vast array of new products on the market now it is very important to keep up with the installation procedures, the field tests and results and problem areas, all areas of which are demonstrated at the Construct Canada Show. 2005 National Building Code Seminar (Brian Shannon and Wayne Mercer) The 2005 National Building Code was adopted by the Province and came into effect on January 01, 2009. The new Code provides for objective based solutions whereas previous building codes were more prescriptive. In this Code every technical requirement must fulfill one or more of the four main objectives which are safety, health, accessibility and fire and structural protection. The course not only explained the benefits of the code in providing for more innovative designs which are helpful when renovating existing buildings but also explained how building officials determine whether those proposed alternatives comply with the code. Communications Skills for Building Inspectors (Wayne Mercer) This course identified the communication skills necessary for building officials to deal with a variety of clients in diverse situations. Most inspections are routine but a few are filled with tension and conflict. Communication skills include listening, giving and receiving feedback as well as verbal and written communications. The course included participation in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator which is a well researched tool that can lead to greater awareness about yourself and others. This self awareness is very helpful for building officials when communicating with clients. The Building Code Part 9 Technical Requirements (George Paulin) The New Brunswick Building Officials Association offered this five-day course in Edmundston. The aspects of inspection that were dealt with in the course included a brief review of certain aspects of the permit application process, an extensive examination of inspections centered on Part 9 of the Building Code, a review of how to deal with legal and political problems that might arise during the course of inspections, and plans

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examination. The contents of the course covered the law in dealing with the permitting process, the excavation inspection, the footing and foundation inspection, structural framing inspection, insulation inspection and heating and air conditioning inspection. The course was designed to enhance our skills in inspecting buildings covered by Part 9 of the Provincial Building Code. The course is a requirement for certification as a New Brunswick Building Official. Other Information Sessions In addition to courses and conferences, RDPC staff attends a variety of information sessions typically put on by government or public interest groups. This past year staff attended sessions on such topics as planning for agriculture, wind power, planning’s response to peak oil, housing in a changing environment, documentation policies and access to information and privacy legislation.

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Appendix Auditor’s Report

Documents

ROYAL DISTRICT PLANNING COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT 2008 … · Royal District Planning Commission Annual Report 2008 Preface The Royal District Planning Commission (RDPC) was established