With current monthly building activity at roughly half of the amount from the same time last year, Wellington North Township councillors were looking for reasons.
In February 2015, there were just five permits issued compared to 11 in 2014.
There was an even a larger spread when it came to comparing values of construction.
The 2015 estimated construction value is $90,500, compared to $679,000 in 2014.
On March 9, councillor Dan Yake said, “There’s not much activity here … is there any reason why?”
Chief building official Darren Jones said there were no residential permit applications last month.
He noted typically there are a few applications made early in each year, but construction would not happen until April.
“But this year, up until the end of February we haven’t had any of those applications.”
Yake asked if there is any reason for that.
Jones did not have one.
Councillor Sherry Burke asked if there were any projects in the wings to generate some activity.
Jones said he had issued two permits in the past week “and we’re getting back into the swing of things.”
CAO Mike Givens said there are also a couple plans of subdivision being processed at the county level, but it was not clear if they would affect this year’s building numbers.
“It’s hard to say, but there is still interest out there,” Givens said.
Burke was concerned the figures are so low in comparison to last year.
Mayor Andy Lennox said one of the big differences in the number and value of permits in 2014 is the Preston Park townhouse development coming online.
