County building on track

BY BRENT FOX

Kings County Register

Building permit values were down in Kings and the shiretown last month, but fiscal year-to-date tallies are still strong.

Kings County Community Development Services department statistics show the municipality issued building permits valued at $5,245,400 last month, for a fiscal year-to-date tally of $42,637,250. This compares to respective totals of $7,223,422 and $46,733,043 a year ago.

Despite being down from September, 2006, last month’s values are still second in totals so far this decade, those for September, 2005, being a close third. The lowest September values this decade were in 2002, with about $2.5 million.

In fiscal year-to-date totals, this year is a close second to last. Those for 2001 are the lowest with just over $25 million.

Kings County Community Development director Bill Butler said“we’re down a little bit year to year.”

But, he noted, “I don’t think we have any major shift in trend or concern.

“It arrears reasonably healthy. We just hope the activity continues.”

Last month’s permit tally included $3,040,460 in single-family housing projects, $616,800 in commercial work, and $407,560 in agriculture-related and $243,640 in bona-fide farm projects.

The department issued 14 permits last month for single-family unit construction, for a fiscal year-to-date total of 92. It also issued two permits for duplexes for a total of 12 for the fiscal year; and one mini-home placement for nine.

The department approved nine subdivision plans last month for a fiscal year-to-date total of 71, and 10 lots for 114. This is compared to 22 and 105 plans and 28 and 156 lots, respectively, a year before.

Major industrial, commercial and institutional projects for which the department issued permits last month include: a $265,960 agricultural addition in North Kingston, two $249,600 commercial structures in Centreville, a $243,640 agricultural structure in Billtown, a $135,000 forestry structure at Bennett’s Bay, a $96,000 agricultural structure in Billtown, a $60,000 commercial renovation in New Minas, a $57,600 commercial structure in New Minas, a $40,000 industrial structure in Steam Mill, a $36,000 agricultural addition in Arlington, a $35,000 institutional renovation in Centreville and a $9,600 agricultural structure in Lakeville.

The Kentville Planning and Development Department issued permits totaling $36,460 in value last month, down from the $282,000 total enjoyed during the same period in 2006. Last month’s fiscal year-to-date tally, however, reached $11,531,030, well ahead of the $7,492,714 achieved a year ago.

Berwick issued no permits during September, for a fiscal year-to-date total of $252,650. This is compared to last year’s totals of $158,800 and $1,085,820.