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Weyburn has second-highest year for building

The City of Weyburn had a near-record year for construction activity and value in 2013, with some records set for planning activity of the city's Planning and Development Department, according to the year-end statistics for city building permits.



The City of Weyburn had a near-record year for construction activity and value in 2013, with some records set for planning activity of the city's Planning and Development Department, according to the year-end statistics for city building permits.

As of the end of December, 2013, the City of Weyburn had issued a total of 114 building permits worth $66,570,112, the second-highest value for construction in Weyburn's history.

This compares to the year-to-date total for 2012 of 160 building permits with a total construction value of $37,017,700.

During 2013, there were 89 permits issued for residential projects with a value of just over $25 million; one institutional project with a value of just over $27 million (for phase 2 of the Weyburn Comp project); nine permits were issued for industrial projects with a value of almost $3 million; and 15 permits were issued for commercial projects with a value of just over $10 million.

Even with the single large project at the Comp, the city still had its second-highest year for construction value, said Martino Verhaeghe, director of planning and development.

For residential construction, there were starts on 25 new single family dwelling units with an average construction value of $448,548, a 71 per cent increase over the 2012 average construction value of $261,666.

For multi-family in 2013, there were 79 units under construction with an average construction value of $157,367, a three-per-cent increase over the 2012 average construction value of $151,701.

In planning and development, there were 23 applications for subdivisions and condo applications, and a record 185 lots created for bare land units, and 63 units for condos separated.

"With 185 lots created, it definitely appears with that number it will lead to more permits for homes on smaller lots and more townhouses. I think in 2014 we'll have a large pickup of single family homes," said Verhaeghe, adding with these projects that new housing prices should be lower for these smaller projects, "which helps bring people into those new neighbourhoods."

He noted there are three large developers who are in Weyburn building, and another one is set to come in 2014.

"We have a few developers who are looking to develop in Weyburn. I don't think we're going to see as many subdivisions and bylaw changes this year," said Verhaeghe.

Another record was set with 26 planning bylaws amended or established during the year.

Verhaeghe explained that some of the planning bylaw changes were for specific significantly-sized projects, and other changes were simply updates to bylaws which were last changed or written in 2003.

"Most bylaw plans should be reviewed every five years and rewritten every 10 years," he said.

A total of 114 building permit applications were reviewed by the Building Department.

One area that may see some development activities is near the exhibition grounds, between that location and the Souris River, said Verhaeghe.

"There are going to be some interesting planning changes coming in the next couple of years. The city is being set up for a very good 2014 and 2015, from a building perspective," said Verhaeghe.

Under development activities, there were 53 development permit applications, of which 20 were for discretionary use and 33 for permitted uses, all of which were new records for this department.

Another record was set for sign permit applications, with 44 submitted, 21 for portable signs and 23 for permanent signs.

There were 11 local development appeals made and one provincial appeal, and there were 16 minor variances.

Of the 11 development appeals, eight were approved and three were denied.

There were also 142 zoning certificates issued, 45 plumbing permits issued, 17 home occupation applications reviewed and four maintenance bylaw orders issued.

There were seven demolition permits reviewed, six for dwellings and one for a commercial building.