INNISFAIL - It has been more than a decade since town officials have witnessed such a building permit frenzy.
At town council’s July 22 regular meeting, Meghan Jenkins, director of community services for the Town of Innisfail, said the year-to-date building permit statistics show a half-year value that almost equals the total value for all of 2023.
“It's definitely a substantial increase, and if things continue for the rest of the year it will be one of the biggest development years we've had in some time,” she later told the Albertan.
Her report to council indicated Innisfail is heading to its highest construction activity level since 2012-2013.
If the same trend continues for the rest of 2024, Innisfail could surpass the 2012 building permit value of $16,148,257.
Jenkins’ report noted that as of July 1 the town had issued 78 building permits with a total value of $9,178,350. The value so far in 2024 is not far off the total in 2023 when all building permits were worth $9,696,330.
The booming building permit spree is centred around resident development where 24 new residential units, with half being multi-family units, are being created or are under construction.
There have also been 13 permits issued for the installation of residential solar panels.
As for the value of all residential development activity in town, which also includes garages and renovations, it comes to $7,963,849 out of the 2024 half-year total building permit value of $9,178,350.
However, Jenkins report also noted that while there is a total of 27 available residential lots available in town no progress has been made on Phase 1 subdivision condition completion for the planned Upper Vista/Dodd’s Lake development.
Her report added that while there are 18 total lots available at the westside Bella Vista development there are no current plans to begin the Phase 2 subdivision process.
As well, there is no current activity in the Woodlands area of town where residential development has long been sought by Laebon Homes.
Jenkins also said in her report the Town of Innisfail has begun planning 59 new residential lots of all types in Napoleon Lake South that could be available by the end of 2025.
In the meantime, there have been six commercial building permits issued so far this year with a value of $914,501, with some of it earmarked for tenant improvements for the new five-unit, 7,750 square foot mall at the intersection of Main Street and 46th Avenue.
The town also recorded one industrial building permit for the first half of 2024 that is valued at $300,000.
Town council approved Jenkins report as information.
