The value of building permits in the city continued strong, with a more than 300 per cent increase in the value of permits issued in February, compared to February 2020.
The city issued a total of 26 building permits in February, worth an estimated $6.36 million according to a report to city council on Monday. In February last year, the city issued 17 permits with a combined value of $1.83 million.
Coun. Garth Frizzell said that the city had every reason to expect a slowdown in development during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It really was a blip, and we're coming back strong," he said. "We're still seeing really high dollar (values)."
Over the first two months of the year, the city issued a total of 58 permits worth a combined $17.88 million. That compares to 56 permits worth an estimated $9.53 million in the same period in 2020 and 64 permits worth a combined $16.13 million in the first two months of 2019.
Residential projects made up the bulk of the permit value in February, with permits issued for seven new single-family homes contributing $4.32 million, and two permits for new mobile homes adding $305,000.
City acting deputy manager Ian Wells said he anticipates development to continue at a brisk pace this year.
"We're seeing a good uptake for subdivision applications, building permit applications... coming up," Wells said.
