Part 4 LSAC "ACTIVITY REPORT" TIME FOR TRANSPARENCY

Another Report To Compare

Once again , to keep the comparisons fair, we utilized the Lac Ste Anne Activity Report from 2011/2012 to compare the Planning & Development Report. Tanya Vanderwell was the Planning & Development Manager and had prepared the report for the 2011 calendar year. Tanya was Recognized in the 2016 LSAC Service Awards and was Congratulated for 15 years of service, hard work, and dedication. Tanya's report clearly followed the direction set forward by the County Manager at that time, Len Szybunka. 

The report was visual with several graphs and tables. She identified what type of application had been put forward and what type of permit had been issued.

Click to Enlarge

She detailed how many applications ended up at the Appeal Board and what type they were. We can easily look at the table and see how many applications, lots created and lot line adjustments took place in each of the Seven Divisions. 

We can see a comparison, a 5 year timeline showing how many subdivision applications were applied for and how many parcels this created. In addition, she showed us a 5 year graph that detailed what types of permits were issued in those time frames. 

The report is completed by statistics regarding the continuing efforts of inspections for sewage containment. 

This report was very comprehensive and allows the reader to understand what had taken place in LSAC for Development. This report gets a big thumbs up for TRANSPARENT. 

On to the 2016/2017 Report from 

Planning and Development Manager Matthew Ferris.

Click to Enlarge

Let's begin by identifying that once again. 
There are no 'Visuals'. No Graphs and No Charts! 

1. The statement " Planning & Development strives to find a balance between land preservation and responsible , sustainable development." How can the Department quantify that statement when there are over 1500 undeveloped empty lots in Lac Ste Anne County?

2. Indicating that 2016 was a busy year with $27,403,532.02 in developments. What they immediately fail to tell you is approximately $12 million of that is the new Administration Building! The Pembina facility that was built just outside of Sangudo is the only other significant development in 2016. Do you think that it is a good idea to include your own debt as a Development? Who did we "pay" for permits?

3. 91 single family residences applications approved in Division 2 . That does not indicate that they built. It is not a building permit but rather just an 'ask' to build. 

In actual fact, development permit applications have decreased.

4. 1202 Permits of all types were issued, with a 90% increase in plumbing. So is that the stage people are at with their new homes, are they putting a bathroom in their basement? Was this campgrounds? What makes this significant? The only reason this would be significant would be if this was improved properties that would support the tax base. 

The question that should be answered is, " How much did assessments grow per category!" In other words new developments.

5. The report goes on to say that LSAC continues to be subdivided at a rapid rate. In 2016, LSAC approved the subdivision and creation of 94 new lots. In the last three years, 636 new lots. Why do we allow more subdivisions without completing the ones we have already approved and developed? Where does this ' balance land preservation' and create ' responsible, sustainable development?

With a population increase, verified by census, of only just over 600 people in 5 years, Is it good business to continue to erode farm land only to leave it empty?

Most of this speaks to lack of foresight, lack of planning. In order to actually "fill" the subdivisions and all the vacant lots we currently have in LSAC, we need some Economic Development. Businesses that can add to the tax base, residences, farms, campgrounds. All the things that attract people to LIVE, WORK AND PLAY. 

If these key things are not taken care of, LSAC will remain a County with empty lots, vacant land assessments that create very little revenue.

Once again, once we have reviewed the reports, the current version of the Planning & Development Report is "FLUFF".

Hope to see you all at Gunn on Monday, August 21st at 7 PM. LSARA is working very hard on your behalf to bring items forward that are very important to consider for how you may cast your vote in the upcoming election of October 2017.

PLEASE SHARE THIS POST