The City of Hamilton is celebrating a step forward in its efforts to modernize its planning processes. The City is now using “AI” tools to conduct the initial review of building permit applications for single-detached and townhouse projects.
The tools conduct basic zoning reviews, comparing application data (such as setback measurements) against City zoning rules. This enables quicker approval (and denial notice) processing. The City states the tools result in a 60 percent decrease in permit processing times.
“In October of 2023, I convened a cross-departmental team that included staff from Planning, Public Works, the City Manager’s Office, and my office alongside outside experts from the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative,” Mayor Andrea Horwath stated during a press conference on Thursday. [City press release]
“The goal was clear. Fix the inefficiencies in our planning systems, streamline the development application process and improve the customer experience for all applicants.”
The new site plan review tool enables the City to “automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks like data entry,” said City Manager Marnie Cluckie. This “frees up time for staff to focus on more complex issues and to speed up the overall process.”
Cluckie said this enables the City’s building permit examiners to approve more permits.
The City also piloted an “All for One” program, which Mayor Horwath stated “brought together staff from all departments involved in the development application review process, providing applicants a single point of contact at the city.”
Currently, this pilot is only for affordable housing applicants.
Having a single staff member as the point of contact helped decrease review timelines by 60 percent.
Following the pilot’s success, the City plans to adopt more tools.
Sean Kenney, Manager of Site Planning, said Hamilton is watching other municipalities’ adoption of tools and is talking with them about what is working in Hamilton.
Mayor Horwath and City Manager Cluckie said the City is focused on improving processes and implementing new technologies.
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Published: April 11, 2025
Last updated: April 11, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
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