City gives out permit for Capital Pointe foundation work

There’s another chapter being written in the ongoing Capital Pointe saga.

The City of Regina announced that a foundation permit was granted to Westgate Properties, one of the developers of the project, on Sept. 15.

Fortress Developments is another developer involved with the project as well.

“Building permit applications are reviewed to ensure all building code standards, bylaw and legislative requirements are met,” said Louise Folk, city director of development services. “If these are achieved, the city is legally obligated to issue a building permit.”

She said once the permit has been issued it is up to the developer to meet regulatory requirements, which includes deadlines.

The city said it inspects the site on a regular basis and keeps in contact with the developer about progress.
One of the critics of the Capital Pointe project has been city councillor Bob Hawkins.

“I understand that the city is legally bound to issue that permit but what I can’t accept is that we don’t have the necessary bylaws and restrictions in place to stop this kind of unconscionable delay,” Hawkins said.

He said he believes the city needs a system where the development permits aren’t open-ended and a limitation on the amount of time it can take to complete.

Hawkins said he has heard many concerns from residents about the project.

“There’s concerns about traffic, there’s concerns about safety, there’s concerns with pedestrians and their inability to get around this corner, the corner is unsightly, it makes the city look like we can’t put a good project in our own backyard, I think it has a reputational effect, I think it’s very serious.”

The permit will expire if Westgate properties does not have meaningful construction done within six months.