Saint John has seen busier-than-usual growth activity to start the year, according to senior staff.

The city received 134 building permits worth $45.9 million during the first quarter, members of the city’s growth committee heard on Tuesday.

Growth Commissioner Amy Poffenroth said that is compared to the five-year average of 109 building permits worth $25.9 million.

“Since we prepared the report, there’s another 33 building permit applications in the door with a value of $9.2 million,” Poffenroth told committee members.

Poffenroth said they are pleased with the trend, especially when it comes to residential units.

A total of 105 units were created by the end of March, more than double the five-year average of 47.

“We have just over 525 units under construction or permitted to be beginning construction, and we have about 170 units under review for permit applications,” the growth commissioner noted.

Poffenroth said three projects with 281 units have received planning approvals over the past three months and the city is awaiting building permit applications.

The city has also held 15 pre-application meetings with developers since January, she said.

“We continue on a positive trend. And we’re looking forward to seeing more,” said Poffenroth.

Saint John recently received $9.2 million under the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, with a target of building at least 1,124 new units over the next three years.

Poffenroth said the city has already reached nearly 15 per cent of that target.