The City of Delta is open for business.
That was the message made abundantly clear from Mayor George Harvie during his Mayor’s Economic Business Breakfast, held at the Cascades Casino Delta on Friday, March 3, an event with many business leaders from Delta and throughout the region in attendance.
The audience first heard many positives from Coun. Dylan Kurger, Musqueam Indian Band Chief Wayne Sparrow, Delta MP Carla Qualtrough, Delta South MLA Ian Paton, and later from special guests Todd Yuen with Beedie Industrial Development, Jit Sangha with Realco Holdings Ltd. and Heather McNell, Metro Vancouver’s Deputy Chief Administrative Officer.
Harvie reiterated the positive message to business owners, developers and property owners that Delta is making great strides to get developments approved faster, including industrial developments, making Delta with its many other attributes, an ideal place to do business.
“Today, I’m here to underscore that Delta is open for business. Economic development and cultivating strong relationships with the business community is an absolute priority for this council. We recognize the value in investments and partnerships that help drive the economic future of Delta and this city’s continued resilience,” said Harvie.
He explained the progress made by the city including, among other things, streamlining the application process, restructuring the community planning and development department into two distinct departments as well as creating a new economic development director position.
“We want to ensure Delta is your first choice when it comes to doing business in the Metro region. This council continues to operate again with a Delta is open for business approach and, as you will see, ongoing investments in new projects and infrastructure, combined with a commitment to streamlining the project approval process, will keep our city thriving and encourage more great projects in Delta. I’m extremely proud of what we’ve been able to achieve in a short time since we’ve been sworn into office,” he added.
Listing the ongoing efforts to expand industrial lands and industrial development, as well as other initiatives, Harvie also talked about the importance of community-building including providing support for businesses and the Delta Chamber of Commerce.
As far as changes to the building approval process, Harvie noted they are aimed at improving the city’s responsiveness to owners, developers and applicants.
He said when it comes to building permits, Delta’s timelines are improving with the goal to be the best in the Metro region. He said the development department has been able to reduce turnaround time for the review of single-family home permits down to one week.
Applications for industrial and commercial have also been reduced and work to reduce timelines for more complex permits is currently underway.
Harvie also said while Delta is taking meaningful action to serve businesses faster and more effectively, capital investments are also being made in transportation to further make the city the preferred choice for business.
