Building Extensions Granted to Local Developers Struggling to Meet Deadlines

Local developers are receiving much needed assistance in the form of extensions on their performance deposits. Due to the pandemic, the city council saw fit that builders should be given an extension. Julian Lenhart, Director of Infrastructure and Planning for the city of Clarence Rockland, spoke with TVC22 journalist Bruce de la Cruz about the changes in policy.

Lenhart explains that the current policy for multi-unit permits (Condos, Townhouses, ETC)  is that developers pay performance deposits to ensure that the building will be built on time. Presently, there is a one year period to have the project completed as much as they are able to estimate how much work can be done during that one year time frame. If not enough work has been done, 25% of the performance deposit will be taken.

The developers want to extend that period to two years, in order to accommodate for lost building time during Lockdown.

A similar amendment was made for single house construction projects, granting the same 2 year extension.

Lenhart worked closely with developers to improve the policy and the amendment was passed during the council meeting that took place on March 24th. 

This change has been in the planning stage since 2018, but due to more pressing priorities the developer’s consultation council had to address, this amendment was only brought forward this year. 

Some of the delays in the construction sector Clarence-Rockland stem from the fact that in June 2020, the city was not able to issue building permits due to the pandemic. Coupled with the delays in obtaining building materials, the backlog in construction was immense. 

Lenhart explains that this change will not affect the taxpayers of Clarence Rockland in any way, as the developers are still paying the performance deposits out of their own pockets. 

One of the other outcomes of this by-law amendment was a chance to see how well the developer’s consultation council worked with the city in making this amendment possible.

Lenhart also explained that once the pandemic is over, the by-law amendment for multi-unit permits will remain in place, while the amendment for single house construction will return to the original policy.