Mark Howard Email & Phone Number

Vaughan, Ontario, Canada

• Provision of leadership to a Team of 13 professional staff responsible for reviewing and coordinating comments on major development applications under the Planning Act, Conservation Authorities Act and Environmental.
• Manage staff resources, including the mentorship, allocation of team members in response to work-load, hiring decisions, work plans, set performance standards and performance reviews.
• Provide excellent customer service, lead negotiations and facilitate conflict resolution with municipalities, developers, consultants, and the public.
• Coordinate the review of major planning and permit applications including Official Plan Amendments, Zoning By-laws, Subdivisions & Condominiums, Site Plans, Master Environmental Servicing Plans, and Secondary Plans.

Vaughan, Ontario, Canada

• Supervision of 3 planning staff responsible for the review of major planning and permit applications including Site Plans, Subdivisions & Condominiums, Official Plan Amendments, Zoning By-laws, Master Environmental.
• Evaluation of municipal planning and development applications, documents and studies and identify how they are affected by Authority regulations, policy and program interests.
• Coordination of internal technical review and produce detailed correspondence to municipal partners and permit applicants based on principles of good planning and technical recommendations.

Toronto, Canada Area

• Provision of planning and real-estate development services specializing in Toronto’s St. Lawrence Neighbourhood and Waterfront Communities.
• Liaise with Community Councillor, municipal departments and resident advisory committees.
• Coordination of Planning, Building and Condominium Corporation approvals including planning justification reports, building permit applications and Committee of Adjustment applications.
• Provision of design services including, conceptual design, shop and permit drawings.
• Project Management services including coordination of trades and general contracting.
• Ongoing financial management, tenant relations, preventative maintenance and repairs.

Mississauga, ON Canada

• Supervised a multidisciplinary team of 8 professional staff including Planners, Landscape Architects, metrics and research coordinators who were responsible for the development and implementation of city-wide plans and.
• Directed the completion/ implementation of seven, City-wide strategies including the Credit River Parks Strategy, the Waterfront Parks Strategy & Refresh, the Natural Heritage & Urban Forest Strategies, the Downtown.
• Managed staff resources, including the allocation of team members in response to work-load, hiring decisions, work plans, set performance standards, completed performance reviews.
• Responsible for the direction of 30-80 community consultation sessions per year.
• Lean subject matter expert responsible for identifying efficiency improvements to team procedures and divisional initiatives.
• Co-directed the Development Charges Review for the division.

Mississauga, ON Canada

• Provided leadership to a multidisciplinary team of 6 Planners and Landscape Architects responsible for the review of approximately 500 development applications/permits a year. (subdivision, official plan amendments.
• Coordinated divisional review and response to requests for parkland dedication and the lease and sale of surplus properties.
• Represented the Commissioner of Community Services presenting critical projects and initiatives to City Council during monthly Development Committee Meetings.
• Guided the creation of internal procedural manuals to ensure alignment and compliance with provincial, corporate and divisional policies and legislation.
• Managed staff resources, including hiring, allocation of team members, work plans, performance reviews, merit increases and provided suggestions for professional growth.

Mississauga, ON., Canada

• Coordinated projects and studies, wrote reports, policies, plans standards, leads public engagement and reviews plans and policies of City Departments for coordination with Community Services projects.
• Coordinated the Credit River Parks Strategy, a master plan for a 1,600-acre park system adjacent the Credit River. The project necessitated close consultation, negotiation and regular updates to 40 members of City.
• Supervised projects, authored charters, issued requests for proposals, hired consultants, coordinated working teams, designed work plans, developed implementation strategies.
• Prepared reports, correspondence and briefing notes for senior management and politicians regarding issues, best practices and interpretation of policy and legislation.
• Liaised, attended public meetings, provides formal presentation, correspondence and briefing notes to senior management and politicians regarding issues, trends, best practices, and interpretation of policy, guidelines.
• Guided consultation and advisory meetings with the public, politicians, internal departments, public agencies, indigenous groups and community organizations.

Toronto, ON., Canada

• Coordinated and reviewed approximately 350 development applications and provided subject matter expertise to senior management, legal services, elected officials consultant and public agencies with regard to City.
• Responsible for the coordination, review and professional recommendations to Council regarding development applications for amendment to the official plan and zoning by-laws; subdivisions and condominiums; holding and.
• Coordinated the largest private development in Toronto’s history “Woodbine Live!” a 132 hectare (326 acre) residential and entertainment development proposing 6 million square feet of retail and office space, having an.
• Led regular community meetings and public consultations on development proposals and provided recommendations to City Council through reports and presentations.
• Contributed extensively to the development of the City’s first successful Tax Increment Equivalent Grant, the City-wide Policy for Public Art in Private Developments, the Planning Website Improvement Team, the Business.

Mississauga, ON., Canada

• Coordinated, reviewed and provided alternative design concepts to 280 development applications.
• Provided strategic guidance to the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design committee, and the Mississauga Accessibility Plan and the Sign Review committee
• Contributed extensively to the Mississauga Accessibility Plan, the Vacant Land & Common Element Condominium Development Standards as well as the supporting by-law.

Mississauga, ON., Canada

• Responsible for a range of assignments regarding the allocation of parkland and recreational facilities.
• Coordinated the Parks Review Committee responsible for the preliminary evaluation of park design.
• Researched and prepared reports regarding the naming of parkland and recreational facilities.
• Researched and drafted updates to “Future Directions” regarding recreational interests and facilities.
• Contributed to Zoning and Official Plan amendments regarding parkland and recreational facilities.
• Prepared minor variance and land division reports for the Committee of Adjustment with specific regard to the City’s parkland objectives.

Mississauga, ON., Canada

• Responsible for the review of development applications having specific regard for the design of parkland.
• Reviewed and prepared conditions of approval for development applications.
• Prepared alternative design recommendations for parkland development.
• Provided contract administration and site supervision for City facilities under construction.
• Conducted site inspections for the release/reduction of development securities.

Toronto, ON., Canada

• Responsible for the coordination of multidisciplinary teams and provision of design services for a variety of projects including corporate campuses, educational facilities, urban parkland and horticultural gardens.
• Presented development applications to municipal councils, administrated contracts, developed specifications and contract documentation, reviewed tender bids, cost estimates, letters of credit, change orders, site.
• Presented to the Ontario Parks Association regarding Spray Pad Design and Construction (2000)
• Project awards include: The Toronto Botanical Gardens Master Landscape Plan (CSLA Regional Citation, 2007); The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens Master Landscape Plan (CSLA Regional Citation, 2002); Royal Group.

Mla, Landscape Architecture & Environmental Design, 94% Academic Average

Activities and Societies: Landscape Architecture Student Society - Treasure • University of Guelph Entrance Scholarship • Ontario.

Affiliate Student Of Town Planning, Faculty Of Town And Country Planning

• Studies included Heritage Planning and Recreational Development, Planning Practice and Heritage Conservation within the UK context.

Bes, Urban & Regional Planning (Urban Design Specialization), 86% Academic Average

Activities and Societies: UW Rowing Club, School of Urban Planning (SURP) Student Council • Board of Governors’ Honouree for Academic.