Modernizing PLANNING, PERMITTING, AND DEVELOPMENT to Serve Our Community

 Cities often allow applicants for a large project to pay for fees in advance of processing to allow for the necessary ramping up of City staff. This avoids a bottleneck in the process, resulting in a smoother process for applicants, particularly on large and often time-sensitive projects. 

 Another helpful way to streamline the application process, particularly for large projects that require the submission of a large number of applications, is to restructure fees to incentivize a larger volume (or “batch”) of similar submissions, which can then be processed in a routine way. 

It aligns incentives for the applicant and City alike, allowing City staff to offload some of the management required for complex applications.  

 Though more difficult amidst short-term budgetary cutbacks, as our City recovers to a stronger financial standing, I will direct City staff to explore the possibility of hiring for additional positions. 

Additional hiring will be focused on the Planning Department to assist with workload of existing employees and expedite the application process for future residents.