Ministry+of+Planning,+Development+and+Infrastructure+2013+-+CDR+group

The Department of Planning plays a very important role in the land development and management of Bermuda. As a government organization they have almost 100 percent influence on our country’s land development. More specifically, they do a variety of research to make land management policies and take steps to make sure that those policies and any relevant legislature are followed by land developers.
 * Land Management Organization:**[| Department of Planning]
 * Person Interviewed:** Victoria Carolo
 * Role/Title:** Planner

There are three ways in which the Department of Planning fulfills their duties and each [|section] of the department is responsible for one of those three ways. The first section of this organization is [|Forward Planning]. Forward Planning is responsible for creating the policies that govern land development and management. Every 10 years they conduct various amounts of research in order to make necessary changes to the existing policy. This involves looking at relevant legislature, surveying the land, and accessing any changes in land use that have taken place. There is also a role in Forward Planning for a Heritage Officer. This Officer is in charge of the maintenance and protection of historical and cultural land and buildings.

Next is [|Development Control]. This section is one of two sections that are responsible for carrying out the policies that have been established by Forward Planning. Planners in Development Control are often the first people that a person see when they submit an application to develop or redevelop their land. Development Control Planners take applicants through the application process and guide them through the necessary steps. They also have to do research in order to make sure that the plans are best suited to all major stakeholders. This involves not only looking at their departments policies and legislature but they may also have to work with members of other government departments and organizations and complete surveys and studies in order to make the best possible decision. In addition to handling applications, they also take on a consulting role for any potential applicants looking to find out what they need to do in order to make a successful request for the developments they are considering.

Lastly, is [|Building Control]. Building Control is the other section that puts the policies into practice. This section is comprised of instructors who frequent active sites to make sure that they are following the plans that have been approved. If the land owners have made unapproved changes to the plans the inspector must report this to Development Control where the process must begin again.

It is also worth noting that in addition to these three areas within the Department of Planning there is also the role of the Development Application Board and the Minister. The Development Application Board is a separate entity from the Department. They are a panel of lay people, appointed by the Minister, who make the final decision on whether or not a plan should be approved. Planners in Development Control make presentations to the board after a considerable amount of research has been done. They also advise the board on whether or not they think a plan should be accepted or rejected; however, the board has the final say. The Minister also plays a role in this process. If a plan is rejected and the land developer appeals the board’s decision, the Minister has the power to make the final call. The general public also plays a role in the planning process. Applications are posted both in newspapers and on the Planning website so that anyone can submit an objection. All objections are assessed by Development Control and taken into consideration if they express valid concerns.

Over the years the Department of Planning has faced many challenges. According to Planner Victoria Carolo their biggest challenge is the general public’s lack of education about exactly what the department does and is responsible for. Also there is a lack of understanding about the regulations and policies that the department utilizes. She went on to note that sometimes land developers come in with their applications and make large demands, asking that approval be given as soon as possible without realizing that there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration before a plan is even presented to the board. This is even a larger problem when applications for large projects are bought to them in this manner. Ms. Carolo also mentioned another challenge that they had to deal with just before the economic downturn. For a few years there was a construction boom and so many applications were being turned in that the department became overwhelmed. However, with the recent economic climate much fewer applications have been coming in and so there has been a balance.

As the main organization responsible for the proper use of our land, the Department of Planning has a huge responsibility on their shoulders. However, through much research, partnerships with other relevant organizations, and input from members of the general public they do the best that they can to make sure that land development and management in Bermuda best serves all who are impacted by it.

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//A Note on Victoria Carolo// //Victoria Carolo is a Planner at the Department of Planning. As a planner in Development Control she is on the frontlines of the planning process and has the huge task of liaising with applicants, conducting research, and coordinating with other relevant departments in order to make the best recommendations to the Development Application Board. Ms. Carolo graduated from college with a degree in Geography and started off at the Department of Planning as a summer student.//