New city website aims to ease permitting communications and more

Editor’s note: This article was edited  Thursday, June 4 to include additional comments from Kenny Gipps, manager of development services.

The City of Revelstoke is rolling out an updated website, with a particular focus on accessibility and ease for users and businesses navigating things like permitting, communications and more. 

Part of the city’s rebranding project, the website relaunches Wednesday, June 3 with a new navigation menu, search function and top services highlighted on each page. 

“This has been a long-awaited and much-needed communication tool to help residents connect more effectively with the city,” Francesca Williams, City of Revelstoke communications coordinator wrote in a press release.

The website’s update is laying the groundwork for more communication streams down the line. One expected to roll out at the end of this year is a reworked development services permit software that Kenny Gipps, manager of development services plans to be a one-stop shop for all things permit and bylaw related.

“We’ve tried to keep everything in plain language as much as possible,” Gipps said, highlighting a development guide that will also be published later on with application notes, what permits are needed for different properties and more information for applicants.

The new permit software will allow applicants to track the status of their permits, answer staff questions about the requests and submit additional documents if necessary, potentially speeding up approvals.

“It really should help with the functionality and the ease of submission for a lot of these applications,” Gipps said.

From what colours businesses within the Revelstoke station heritage conservation area can paint buildings to appropriate signage material, the specific requirements and development approvals can be a new world for business owners to navigate.

“Usually, the type of permit that they’re applying for is the first time they’ve ever applied for that,” Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce CEO Caroline Lachapelle said. “It can get overwhelming, and they can miss a small portion of it.”

Fable Book Parlour, Revelstoke’s local bookstore, recently had to take down its temporary signage at its new MacKenzie Avenue location after learning the material used was not allowed. 

“We thought a temporary sign (yes, we had a sign permit) would be ideal while navigating the development permit process. But it turns out the banner material isn’t allowed in our case,” Fable staff shared on social media.

Incidents like these impact staff workloads and business revenue, Lachapelle said, adding that improper or missing signage can cause a reduction in potential customers and owners often work overtime to resubmit applications.

“What development delays do is cost businesses the ability to be able to have a work-life balance,” she said.

The chamber team has brought business development permit struggles to the city’s attention and provided ideas on how the permit requirements could be clearer and Lachapelle is hopeful the new website will ease business woes.

Chamber staff are anticipating helping businesses navigate where to find approved materials, colours and more once development requirements are available. While things like specific heritage colours are regulated by the city, staff cannot endorse specific brands or suppliers.

“Once that’s out, we’ll be able to take a look at where we can help support on our side,” Lachapelle said.