In a recent meeting of the Bloomington Board of Public Works, significant discussions centered around a new contract with American Structure Point, a planning and engineering firm. The contract aims to enhance the city’s development services review processes, which have been identified as overly complicated and prone to bottlenecks.

David Bridal, the director of the Department of Planning and Transportation, presented the proposal, outlining a comprehensive six-month study that will evaluate how the city reviews various permits related to development. This initiative is designed to streamline processes and implement best practices, ultimately improving efficiency for both city officials and developers.

Bridal emphasized the collaborative nature of the project, noting that it will involve not only his department but also the city’s utilities and public works departments. The goal is to identify redundancies and simplify the review process, which has not been thoroughly examined in the past.

A key aspect of the study will be outreach to the development community, including focus groups with engineers, builders, and developers who frequently navigate the city’s permitting system. While there will be opportunities for these stakeholders to provide input, the general public may have limited chances to comment, primarily during presentations to the plan commission.

Board members expressed their support for the initiative, recognizing its potential to better serve the community. The motion to approve the contract passed unanimously, indicating a strong commitment to improving the city’s development processes.

As Bloomington moves forward with this contract, the anticipated outcomes could lead to a more efficient and user-friendly permitting system, benefiting both city officials and residents alike. The next steps will involve the initiation of the study and ongoing collaboration with American Structure Point to implement the recommended changes.