CONNECTION 2024: S07 Edmonton’s Approach to an Efficient and Effective Permitting System: A Journey of Continuous Improvement (CONNECTION2024)

The City of Edmonton has focused on the continuous improvement of development permit processes. This has saved applicants 5.3 million dollars and 67,600 days each year. The City’s efforts won them a Government of Alberta’s Municipal Excellence ‘Red Tape Reduction’ Award in 2022, and in 2023, The Canadian Home Builders’ Association announced that Edmonton ranked #1 in its 2022 Municipal Benchmarking Study, making Edmonton a change leader in reducing barriers and costs to development. We will share pain points, risks that had to be analyzed, and offer insight into achieved outcomes. Our online application system will be highlighted, along with innovative tools and leading-edge approaches to regulations to speed up the process.

CONNECTION 2024: S08 Local Area Planning: Developing Policy Through Approachable and Inclusive Education and Engagement (CONNECTION2024)

The Local Area Planning Program is The City of Calgary’s new approach to developing policy plans for multiple communities under one engagement process. Our small team is developing or has developed plans that include 82 communities and industrial areas across Calgary. These innovative plans link traditional statutory policy with implementation and investment priorities for communities. Join staff from The City of Calgary to learn about the Program and our robust approach to public engagement and education. We’ll demonstrate how visual storytelling, approachable and inclusive engagement, diverse participation options and relationship building can result in the creation of community champions and advocates for planning at a community and local level.