The City of Clearwater's Affordable Housing Advisory Committee convened on October 3, 2023, to discuss strategies for streamlining the permitting process for affordable housing developments. A significant focus of the meeting was the potential implementation of pre-approved building plans, often referred to as "cookie cutter" designs, which could expedite the approval process for developers.

Committee members debated the feasibility and costs associated with acquiring templates for these plans. One member suggested that purchasing a few templates could help organizations like Habitat for Humanity expedite their building processes. The discussion highlighted the need for clarity in the permitting language and the importance of reducing the time it takes for developers to receive approvals.

The committee acknowledged that while some developers have not submitted their standard house plans for pre-approval, the barriers to doing so remain unclear. Concerns were raised about the intellectual property associated with these designs, which may deter developers from sharing their plans. The committee proposed the idea of hosting workshops with builders to better understand their challenges and encourage collaboration.

Members also discussed the potential time savings that could result from adopting a cookie cutter model, estimating that it could reduce the review period by several days. The committee emphasized the value of predictability in the permitting process, which could ultimately benefit both developers and the city.

As the meeting concluded, the committee decided to hold off on further discussions until additional information could be gathered regarding the feasibility of implementing these pre-approved plans. The next meeting will revisit this topic, aiming to refine the approach to streamline the housing development process in Clearwater.