Councillors here believe last year’s warm weather led to a substantial difference between the number and value of building permits between 2010 and 2011 to date.
The value of those permits is down almost $2-million compared to last year.
In addition, the recent building permit report issued had rather dismal figures indicating the number of building permits until the end of March is only one third of the figures from 2010.
As of March 31, there were 11 permits valued for an estimated $348,000 in construction, compared to the 2010 figures of 32 building permits valued at $2,311,000.
Mayor George Bridge said the report “was a little bit scarey.”
He said he had a chance to speak with chief building official Terry Kuipers.
Bridge said the weather last year was a lot better than the current year.
“We’re starting to see an increase in permits already,” now that the weather is better he added. “But last year, a lot of people were able to start building in March.”
He said there was also the factor of the HST kicking in and builders were trying to get construction started early last year – to get under the wire.
He anticipates the next building permit report will be much better.
But he agreed the current report is not too thrilling.
