Revelstoke’s development activity grows in 2015

Revelstoke’s 2015 year-end data shows an increase in development activity in 2015 over recent years, particularly commercial construction. In 2016 the trend may continue with Downie Timber the latest to apply for a development permit for a series of significant upgrades.

Downie Timber is looking to build a number of improvements to the sawmill operations including shaving bins, a compressor room, the installation of a chip pipe, chip bins, kiln and kiln transformer.

If approved by city council at the Jan. 26 meeting, they will be conducted throughout the year.

The City of Revelstoke’s development services department provides activity reporting three times per year and the final year-end report for 2015 shows an increase in construction activity from 2015 to 2014.

Manager of development services, Dean Strachan, compiled the report and notes that there was a significant increase in commercial construction, residential was equal, and industrial was lower.

KEY POINTS – Development Activity 2015

– In 2015 the total value of building permits was $15,042,000. (The total was $14,293,000 in 2014 and $9,723,000 in 2013.) In 2015 the total value of building Permits increased by $749,000, a 7.7% increase over 2014. There were 209 building permits issued in 2015 while in 2014 there was a total 231. Although the number of permits was lower in 2015 the total value of the construction work was higher.

– In 2015 the development services department processed 75 development applications (ranging from rezoning and development permits, to heritage alteration permit and sign permits). In 2014, they also processed 75 applications while in 2013 there were 45.

– In 2015, development services department completed the program for addressing expired building permits and revised the building permit processing procedure and continued to improve customer service.

– In 2015 residential construction represented 60% of the total building permit value for the year. This was very similar to 2014 when the ratio was 63%. Fifteen new homes were constructed in Revelstoke 2015.

Read the full report here.