Planning & Development


Policy Planning Development Building Approvals Transportation Port Authorities Liaison Community Social Development Corporate Communications & Marketing

Planning and Development Division

The Planning and Development Division is responsible for issues and services affecting the physical form of the City, including:

  • Building permitting and review services;
  • Tree Protection Bylaw administration;
  • Reviewing all development applications (i.e. rezoning, development permits, development variance permits, subdivisions, etc.) ;
  • Coordinating the design and installation of infrastructure improvements and assessing and collecting Development Cost Charges and other development related fees for all new developments as required;
  • Establishing the planning and design policies that help shape the transportation system of the City;
  • Carrying out key functions include the planning and functional design of the City's transportation infrastructure of roads and traffic operation controls including traffic signals;
  • Prepare the Official Community Plan (OCP) and Area Plans;
  • Prepare the long range land use, urban design and environmental policies (e.g. agricultural, industrial, heritage, environmental, flood management);
  • Supporting City Advisory Committees regarding a variety of issues (e.g. heritage, agriculture); and
  • Working cooperatively with other agencies in the development of networks, programs and processes to respond to the needs of vulnerable populations, promote cultural enrichment, and nurture and enhance the community's social capital.

Policy Planning

Mandate

Policy Planning specializes in establishing long range community planning policies, and develops and implements land use and environmental policies and urban design guideline policies in consultation with the community to make Richmond "the most appealing, livable and well managed community in Canada".

Clients

Policy Planning clients are external clients: communities, residents, organizations, land owners, and developers; and internal clients: Council, committees and City staff.

Partners

Policy Planning partners include Federal, Provincial, Regional and Municipal organizations, businesses, community organizations, institutions and consultants.

Expertise

Planning is the process of managing interests and change. In assisting the City of Richmond to be the most appealing, livable and well managed community in Canada, the Policy Planning staff is comprised of community, land use and environmental planners who provide a wide range of professional services including: visioning, options analysis, policy development, co-ordination, organizational development, urban design, research, data management, training, promotion, project management and community development.

Services

Policy Planning provides the following services:
  • Plan Preparation and Monitoring (e.g., OCP, area plans);
  • Long Range Research and Policy Development:
    • Urban design issues;
    • Physical, land use issues (e.g., Agriculture Viability Strategy);
    • Environmental issues (e.g., ESA Review);
  • Data Management:
    • Census data management;
    • OCP data;
    • City "Hot Facts;"
    • Other;
  • Community Group Liaison and Support (e.g., ACE, Heritage Commission)
  • City Liaison on Committees:
    • Port Authorities;
    • GVRD Committees;
    • FREMP;
    • Regional Committees;
  • Internal Services:
    • Front Counter Client inquiries;
    • Land use information;
    • Strategic Team support;
    • Integrated Service Team support

Contacts:

Policy Planning

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Development Applications

The Development Applications Department is responsible for:
  • Reviewing all development applications (i.e. rezoning, development permits, development variance permits, subdivisions, etc.)
  • Assessing and collecting Development Cost Charges and other development related fees;
  • Coordinating the design and installation of infrastructure improvements for all new developments as required;
  • Providing advice on engineering matters in the community planning process;
  • Naming streets and providing street addresses; and
  • Maintenance of property records.

The Development Applications Department works with other City divisions including: Transportation, Policy Planning, Engineering and Public Works, Clerk's, Law, Zoning, Building Approvals, Community Bylaws, Finance and Richmond City Council.

The division also consults directly with property owners, residents, developers, architects, engineers, planners, other government bodies as part of the development application review process.

Contacts:

Development Applications

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Building Approvals

The Building Approvals Division consists of two sections: Permits and Inspections.

Permits

Responsible for receiving and reviewing construction drawings for all types of buildings and structures, prior to permit issuance. The drawings are reviewed for compliance to the BC Building Code, as well as City Zoning and Development and Building Regulations. For large and complex buildings, the section undertakes reviews on plumbing and mechanical systems.

This review process involves different areas within the City, such as Health, Fire and Planning. Comments from the various areas are reviewed, complied and forwarded to the applicant. When all issues from the various areas are resolved, a permit is issued.

Inspections

Responsible for on the site construction of the building, and the associated plumbing and gas work.

The Inspectors are responsible for inspecting the various stages of building construction and associated plumbing/gas installation to ensure compliance with all applicable codes and bylaws. By using the reviewed drawings, the inspector is able to assist the builder in identifying areas of concerns or unusual/new construction techniques which may require special attention.

The Permits and Inspection sections of the Building Approvals Department work together to ensure the minimum standards with respect to public health, fire protection, life safety, and structural sufficiency is uniformly addressed, on all buildings and structures within the City of Richmond.

Contacts:

Building Approvals Contacts

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Transportation

Mandate

Under the direction of Richmond City Council, the overall mandate of the Transportation Department is to provide the most efficient, effective and safe service to enhance the mobility of people and goods in Richmond.

Vision

Our community making sustainable transportation choices.

Mission

To provide a safe and effective travel environment for a liveable community.

What We Do

The Transportation Department is primarily responsible for establishing the planning and design policies that help shape the transportation system of the City. These policies include the planning and functional design of the City's transportation infrastructure of roads, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, and transit amenities, as well as traffic operation controls such as traffic signals and signage, on-street parking, traffic calming measures, and development access.

Organization

The Transportation Department has three major sections:

Transportation Planning

Responsible for developing plans that best serve the public's current and future travel needs, establishing the priority, scope, and functional design of transportation improvements, reviewing the transportation requirements of new developments, and working with external agencies on local and regional transportation improvements such as transit services, major highways, bridge crossings, and policy/funding/governance issues.

Traffic Operations

Responsible for the design and maintenance of traffic and parking signs, pavement marking, pedestrian crosswalks, school frontages for drop-off/pick-up, issuance of special vehicle and event permits, analysis of traffic accident data, special traffic and parking control, and handling of public complaints on traffic and parking related matters.

Traffic Signals

Responsible for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the City's traffic signal system including new installations at intersections and railway crossings, signal timing, detector loops, communications network, fire department pre-emption, automated traffic volume counting, and centralized control of all traffic signals under the City's jurisdiction.

Contacts:

Transportation

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Social Planning

Richmond has a strong tradition of addressing social issues in its planning and service delivery – a tradition of listening, engaging and collaboratively responding to resident’s social concerns. Community Social Development focuses on working cooperatively with other agencies in the development of networks, programs and processes to respond to the needs of vulnerable populations, promote cultural enrichment, and nurture and enhance the community’s social capital.

Examples of the City’s commitment to social development include:

  • Direct service delivery
  • Adoption of policies
  • Development of plans to address targeted population groups or identified community concerns
  • Advocacy to other levels of government
  • Support of community agencies and partners
  • Securing child care facilities, affordable housing and other community amenities from private development through the rezoning process

The following sections make up the Community Social Development Department:

Social Development Strategy

The Social Development Strategy guides the City’s community social development work. This strategy envisions Richmond as an inclusive, engaged, and caring community—one that considers the needs of the present and future generations, values and builds on its diversity, nurtures its social capital, and treats its citizens with fairness and respect.

Other Plans and Policies

Community Social Development is grounded by a solid foundation of plans and policies that guide its work. In addition to the Social Development Strategy, the following plans and strategies help guide the department’s work:

Advisory Committees

Four of the City of Richmond’s Council-appointed Advisory Committees are involved in the work of community social development:

If you are interested in volunteering your time and expertise on any of the following committees, information can be found on the Advisory Bodies page.

Contacts:
Community Social Development

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Port and Harbour Authorities Liaison

The City maintains communication with the port and harbour authorities through the Urban Development Department. The following authorities and commissions are responsible for managing government lands, water lots, and the Fraser River waters for public benefit, e.g. navigation, commercial traffic, dredging, ports, etc.

Contacts:

Port & Harbour Authorities Liaison

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Related Links:

Contacts:

Planning & Development Department

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