Building permits in the Town of St. Paul boundaries to date are valued at almost $5 million, more than the total of $4 million in 2010, Coun. Trevor Kotowich reported to Town of St. Paul council on Aug. 22.
Six single-family dwelling permits worth $1.5 million, two residential garage and eight residential improvements add up to around $1.67 million in value.
While three duplex permits were applied for last year, none have been taken out in 2011 so far. Around 25 residential permits were taken out in 2010.
“I’m going to suggest to you that 2011 is going to be a banner year for commercial development,” said Kotowich.
Twelve commercial permits account for $3.3 million worth of development to date, significantly higher than three permits worth $63,000 in 2010.
The numbers show “St. Paul is an economic hub for bigger than just the northeast zone,” Kotowich said.
The McDonalds and Giant Tiger renovations, the new St. Paul Veterinarian clinic, a new funeral home and the new building for Trailer Canada contributed to the increase in value of commercial building permits.
The Municipal Planning Committee (MPC) plan to enforce the existing land use bylaw related to free standing signs, he said. One portable free standing sign is permitted per business and the signs can advertise that business only, Kotowich said. “It’s cut and dry in the bylaw.”
The MPC will send notices to businesses saying all signs are expected to comply with the bylaw. Compliance will be expected by Nov. 30. The MPC is also discussing remedies with the companies that rent the signs to “come up with a solution that works for everybody,” he said after the meeting.
“We have received some concerns from businesses and public members at large about needing some uniformity with the signs,” he said. “We want everybody to be happy and we want our business community to be able to advertise. We want to have some conformity to it though.”
The signs can obstruct traffic and affect peoples’ driving habits or become “visually cumbersome,” he said.
The bylaw has some parts open to interpretation, he said. The MPC has not proposed amendments to the bylaw and is seeking to resolve its concerns with the business community.