ASSOCIATE professor of Urban and Regional Planning at University of Technology, Jamaica Dr Copeland Stupart; urban and regional planning consultant Lorna Perkins; and real estate, urban planning, and sustainable development consultant Kevin D Guscott have been named to a Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) building review panel.

In making the announcement on Wednesday, Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby said this is a decisive move to enhance transparency, consistency, and accountability in the development approval process.

“This marks the first time the KSAMC is engaging a panel of experts to provide strategic direction in improving its developmental processes,” said Swaby.

“The independent panel will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the procedures, laws, and regulations governing the municipal corporation’s planning and development framework,” added Swaby.

He pointed out that this initiative follows concerns raised over the last three years about inefficiencies in the development approval processes and the enforcement of planning and building guidelines.

“Issues such as public dissatisfaction, litigation, and challenges in balancing the interests of residents, developers, and regulators have underscored the need for an objective evaluation,” said Swaby.

According to the mayor, the panel’s work will focus on identifying weaknesses and deficiencies within the current development application process and proposing actionable recommendations.

He said the key objectives of the panel include, aligning municipal processes with international best practices, developing clear procedures to enhance transparency and consistency, establishing a planning risk profile for applications, enhancing resource allocation and stakeholder engagement, and fostering development that is safe, inclusive, resilient, sustainable, and economically viable.

“The deliverables will include a comprehensive assessment document, recommendations for updated procedures for application processing, and a public awareness presentation to share findings and plans as well as a full implementation and monitoring plan,” said Swaby.

“As the local planning authority, we must ensure that our processes are robust, transparent, and equitable. This independent review will allow us to address existing gaps and set a foundation for a sustainable future that benefits all stakeholders in the city,” added Swaby.

The review is expected to be completed within the first quarter of the year, with an implementation plan and schedule to follow shortly after.

Stupart holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Planning from University of Waterloo, a Master of Urban Planning from McGill University, and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture (Magna Cum Laude) from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.

Perkins holds a master’s degree from International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences (ITC) in The Netherlands, a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from UTech, and a Post-graduate Diploma in Public Administration.

Guscott holds a Master of Science in Sustainability in the Urban Environment from City College of New York (CUNY), a Master of Arts in Urban Policy and Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, both from Brooklyn College (CUNY).