Planning applications a click away

Environmental group BEST has welcomed moves to make planning documents more accessible to the public.

The lobby group has recently been able to see voluminous environmental plans — some of which are more than 100 pages and submitted as part of the latest Tucker’s Point SDO project — online for the first time.

Meanwhile, Environment & Planning  Minister Sylvan Richards told the Bermuda Sun that the Planning Department would continue to make every effort to make planning applications more accessible to the public and groups such as BEST.

Easier access

BEST Chairman Stuart Hayward said: “We have been finding it easier to get access to the information about a given application for development.

“More information is now being put online where the public can view it in depth and repeatedly, if necessary, without making a trip to the Department of Planning with all that entails — from travel and parking to the limitations of note-taking.

“We recognise that the Department has an important role to play in moderating Bermuda’s built environment, and a difficult job doing it.

“I believe they have come to see BEST as a significant stakeholder, also playing an important role in the interest of the public.

“We appreciate any cooperation we get as we try to do our job better, and we note that the spirit of cooperation is growing.”

Previously, interested parties had just 10 working days to view planning applications and they would have to visit the Planning Department in office hours to access the information.

These limitations have caused problems and frustration in the past, especially when viewing major planning files that consist of numerous reports and plans.

Minister Richards has confirmed that the new Government will continue to look at ways of improving accessibility and transparency.

He told the Bermuda Sun: “Making documents and information about planning applications accessible to the public is something we continue to look at.

“We do have a policy whereby anyone from the public can access the information at certain times in the working day.

“But we are open to using technology to improve that and make the current system more robust.

“I would consider putting this information on line.

“If the technology is out there and if we can use it to make the system better we will definitely look at it.” n