Community Development reports faster permit review times; Port and county at odds over subarea plan cost-sharing

Community Development Associate Lauren Prentice told commissioners on June 2 that permit-review metrics have improved: individual reviewer turnaround averaged about 4.2 days and planning critical‑areas review fell to an average of 3.9 days after staffing additions. Prentice noted that 29% of completed reviews for the prior month required a resubmittal, and that re-review is often driven by missing site information or technical requirements rather than arbitrary requests.

Commissioners and staff discussed complaints that third‑party reviewers (SafeBuild) request items not required by code. Prentice and commissioners said they do not believe SafeBuild has requested actions outside the state building code; rather, disagreements appear to be interpretation differences or incomplete applicant submissions. Prentice proposed a customer survey to gather data on reviewer experience and pledged to provide comparative data on SafeBuild vs. county reviewer return rates.

On the Port of Walla Walla subarea plan, staff reported an impasse: port staff asked the county to provide a proposed port agreement and scope before scheduling a joint meeting of both governing bodies. The county has drafted an MOU and contract amendment for consultant services and offered a joint meeting to reconcile timelines and potential cost sharing; port staff’s initial response was to bring the draft to the port commission rather than to a joint session with county commissioners. County staff recommended bringing decision-makers together to resolve outstanding questions about cost allocation and timeline guarantees to benefit potential developers.