New commissioner declares city “open for business”
By Dave Flaherty/The Oshawa Express
Oshawa’s new commissioner of development services wants all to know the city is “open for business.”
Warren Munro was recently appointed to the position, taking over for Paul Ralph, who became city manager after Jag Sharma left for Newmarket at the beginning of April.
In a media release, Ralph calls Munro an “experienced and successful leader” who demonstrates “dedication and commitment to public services on a daily basis.”
Munro began his tenure with the city in 1999 as a senior planner and held several staff positions such as community improvement and housing coordinator, principal planner, and manager of policy.
In 2016, he was promoted to director of planning services.
In his new role, Munro will oversee five departments – administration, building permit and inspection, economic development, engineering, and planning.
The Oshawa Executive Airport is also managed under his department.
Munro told The Oshawa Express moving to the commissioner’s role is a “natural career progression” for him.
He again emphasized the “open for business” mantra, stating he will continue to deliver that message to the development industry as his predecessor had.
“We want to be known as a leader in Ontario as a community that promotes good planning and an open for business attitude,” Munro states.
For him, the short-term priority is to see several high-level development projects completed sooner rather than later.
“I’d like to see a little more activity, some more development. There are projects which are important to me that I would like to see get going…building permits with significant value, such as a large apartment building with $35 million to $40 million in permit value.”
A close partnership between the city and developers is key to a successful future, Munro says.
“We want to work with the development community to advance their needs as well as those of the community.”
Munro is also excited to see projects planned by Trent University, Durham College, and Ontario Tech University, both student residences and academic buildings, begin to progress as well.