Each month, our blog features an organization that provides resources to local businesses in our ‘Partner Spotlight.’ This month, the spotlight falls on the City’s Planning Department.
Here we chat with Gabrielle Collard, Manager of Current Planning, about the department’s relationship to local businesses and the assistance they can provide.
How does the Planning Department interact with local businesses?
We interact with local businesses on a lot of levels—we can assist local businesses who are looking to relocate or expand by helping them to understand the applicable zoning regulations and how they apply to their site before they invest in developing plans and once formal applications are made, by guiding them through the development process. On a more micro scale, we often field questions from small business about what type and size of signage is permitted and how to obtain approvals about activities such as special events.
How Can businesses Be Best prepareD for meetings with the Planning Department?
A lot of the questions we get from local businesses pertain to the permissibility of certain activities—for example, what types of uses are permitted in what districts and how their business is classified from a land use perspective. In these cases, having a very detailed description of the operations, activities, and impacts of the business is critical. For new businesses, having the business model helps us to ensure that we classify the use properly so that entrepreneurs and business operators can make well informed real estate decisions.
Have you noticed any business-related trends (either locally or nationally) in City Planning?
One of the biggest trends I see is a desire for flexibility and creativity. Entrepreneurs and small businesses owners often have some really great ideas that can challenge conventional zoning. Likewise, they seek the flexibility to respond to shifting trends and markets as they emerge, often at a pace that’s much faster than land use laws and regulations can respond. Whatever the industry is, the need to provide real-time solutions and opportunities is something that local businesses need.
What helpful resources does your Department provide that the business community may be interested in?
Formally, our Department participates in the City’s One-Stop Shop Permitting system which allows same-day permitting for some types of work. We also provide Zoning Determination letters in which we can certify the zoning of the property or the classification of a land use and where it’s permitted—this is a great service for new businesses looking to find a location or for established businesses who may need this documentation as part of new financial investment.
Less formally, we always have a planner on call available to answer questions both on the phone and in person at the City’s Annex Office Building.
Is there anything else you think would be of interest to the local business community?
I would just encourage businesses owners and operators to reach out when they have questions. I can only imagine how intimidating it might be for a small business owner to delve into the world of development, whether its new construction or the fit-out of a tenant space, and I understand the substantial financial investment that it often entails. We have staff who are always happy to answer questions or connect applicant’s to the right people who can answer those questions.
Best part of being a City Planner?
My favorite part of being a City Planner is the opportunity it provides me with to interact with so many different stakeholders and to understand the various perspectives. Just in working with the local business community I have learned so much about so many different industries and what’s important to their success. These insights have undoubtedly benefited my ability to make policy recommendations and to improve planning processes.