Land Use Bylaw amendments and Industrial Landscaping Requirements Guide aim to encourage additional investment into Coaldale’s expanding industrial area
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The Town of Coaldale is continuing to introduce new methods to reduce red tape for developers looking to invest in Coaldale.
“Over the past several months we’ve looked at streamlining and clarifying landscaping requirements for commercial and industrial developers,” said Spencer Croil, Director of Planning and Community Development at the Town of Coaldale. “Ultimately, our goal is to provide clarity to developers so that the Town's industrial areas can be developed consistently and in such a way that they uphold a level of visual appeal that promotes high-quality industrial development for the community and the region.”
A series of recommendations were brought forward to Town Council at the September 13 Regular Council Meeting to amend several landscaping standards and guidelines within the Town’s Land Use Bylaw.
“Broadly speaking, the recommendations made are based on staff’s recognition of issues that have consistently arisen in development discussions and in processing applications for Coaldale’s industrial area,” said Croil. “An Industrial Landscaping Requirements Guide has also been crafted to provide clarity as to what landscaping regulations developers are required to meet and to act as a resource for the variety of vegetation and ground cover options they may wish to consider when preparing a landscaping plan.”
The Town has taken serious strides over the year to reduce red tape in other aspects of the planning department as well.
“Earlier this year, we made it possible to complete and submit development application forms digitally,” said Croil. “There’s also an option to complete payments online, effectively making the entire application process one that can be completed without have to come into the town office.”
“As an organization, our goal is to improve overall efficiency in terms of getting more done with less, particularly in the past few years” said Cameron Mills, Manager of Economic Development and Strategic Initiatives at the Town of Coaldale. “We’re continually reviewing our internal processes and have made tremendous strides to improve efficiency and cultivate positive experiences with residents and developers to make it easier for those to want to invest in Coaldale.”
These efforts towards red tape reduction and investment attraction have paid real dividends; the Town has outpaced comparable municipalities in terms of overall investment attraction on a per capita basis according to the Town’s most recent comparative analysis.
“Red tape reduction work isn’t something the average resident might notice, but it’s extremely important in terms of positioning the Town as a great place to do business and it’s something that everyone in the office supports and takes a lot of pride in,” said Mills. “We’re always looking for ways to make life easier for our residents and members of our business community and we look forward to continuing that important work in the coming months.”