The Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC),today, tabled the final report of the independent Three-Member Review Panel commissioned to examine the Corporation’s development approval and planning framework. The report was formally presented at the Building and Town Planning Committee meeting held earlier today (July 16), and is now publicly accessible via the KSAMC’s website.

Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby, who established the panel in January of this year, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and reform in the planning and development process.

“It has been long established that we needed an objective, professional analysis of where the system has broken down, and how we can rebuild public trust and institutional credibility,” Mayor Swaby said. “The submission of this report represents an important step toward a more efficient, responsive, and accountable municipal planning system,” he further added.

The panel was formed in response to mounting concerns over the past three years regarding inefficiencies and inconsistencies in the development application process. Issues raised included delays, inadequate enforcement, and widespread dissatisfaction among residents, developers, and planning professionals.

Mayor Swaby emphasized that the Corporation sought not just to identify problems, but to find lasting solutions through expert review.
The panel consisted of three highly respected professionals with extensive experience in urban planning and development:• Dr. Copeland Stupart, Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Technology, Jamaica• Ms. Lorna Perkins, Urban and Regional Planning Consultant with over 30 years of experience
• Mr. Kevin Guscott, Consultant in real estate and sustainable development with nearly 40 years of experience

Their mandate included a full review of the laws, procedures, and institutional practices guiding planning and development within the KSAMC, with a focus on identifying weaknesses and providing practical, reform-oriented recommendations. The final report provides a comprehensive assessment of the development approval framework, along with detailed policy and procedural reform proposals. It also offers recommendations to strengthen regulatory enforcement and includes materials aimed at improving public awareness and stakeholder engagement.

It provided a three (3) year implementation plan(2025-2028) along with a monitoring & evaluation plan to ensure that the agreed objectives are achieved
The report will be reviewed in detail by both the Building and Town Planning Committee and the KSAMC Advisory Committee, and will inform the future policy decisions and operational reforms within the KSAMC. The report can be downloaded from the KSAMC’s official website; also; members of this three (3) member panel will be available for interviews and further discussion.

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Below, please see link to Development Application Process Review 2025:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BLL7BhREhKTh_CHZk9YfhKdOh7eVv8T9/view?usp=sharing

 

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