Longtime Saskatoon resident Margaret Tompson was not pleased to hear about City Hall’s efforts to streamline and reduce costs surrounding infill building permits. Tompson, who lives next door to an infill home and has experienced water issues, spoke out against proposed changes to the city’s drainage bylaw at Wednesday’s standing policy committee on planning, development and community services. “This simplification makes absolutely no sense,” Tompson said. In order to build an infill home, property owners have to submit a grading plan as part of a building permit application to ensure water is draining to the right places according to city regulation. The city says while this system has been “effective” in promoting proper site drainage and reducing impacts on neighbouring home, plans often need many revisions and are tying up the city’s drainage inspector for extended periods. Rather than submit a grading plan, administration proposed having owners sign a letter of commitment. “Why does the city think an effective solution is to have an owner with no building experience attest they will follow the drainage bylaws with no plans needed?” she said. One issue raised with the potential changes is the time it would take to discover and fix any drainage issues, which could be up to two years after the new build is occupied. Robert Clipperton, a member of the Nutana Community Association, said a home may change ownership multiple times in that span or have landscaping and garage built on the property — which could affect any corrections to grading. He also said getting the city to respond to drainage complaints would likely shift the work of the drainage inspector from working on grading plans to responding to complaints. “The enforcement mechanism appears to be to report your neighbor to City Hall,” Clipperton said. “Not a good way to build communities.” The committee quickly voted down the proposed changes and was told by administration the building permit stabilization reserve is currently “healthy.” The committee instructed administration to find a cost recovery method to fund inspection and enforcement of drainage issues on infill builds. “If we have an issue with an ability to do the work that we need to do, then I think we have to look at things differently that doesn’t take away that work, but rather ensures that it’s properly funded,” Mayor Cynthia Block said. A report from administration said The Saskatoon Region Home Builders Association was informed of and supported the proposed changes.
