Public Works outlines permit backlog, staffing and Acela process; commissioners discuss time limits

Public Works provided commissioners an updated list of active development-review projects in the county’s Acela portal, described staffing shortages and training plans, and discussed how recent state timelines for planning permits could affect local processing and potential refunds.

Susan Eugenis of Public Works told the Board there were 15 projects on the department’s active list, two of them short plats, and that several projects are awaiting clarifications or additional documents from applicants. "There is currently 15 projects on our list. Of those 15, 2 are short plats," Eugenis said, adding that some items appear in Public Works’ Acela list because of how short plats are routed even though the final processing remains manual.

Tracy Jackson, building and planning, told commissioners that the recent state rule changes on time restrictions for GMA counties (Growth Management Act) apply only to GMA counties and not to Cowlitz County, but that the county had discussed a potential local resolution on permit timelines. "It's for GMA Counties, and it's strictly on the planning side. But, yes, most of these, we would be refunding all of their permit fees back," Jackson said about counties that are subject to the state timeline requirement; she noted Cowlitz County is not covered by that requirement.

Staff explained the Acela list captures a mix of private roads, single-family homes and planning projects (SEPA, site plans, short plats). Public Works said it will train an additional engineer to reduce its three-week turnaround on private-road reviews and reported two open development-related positions with interviews next week. The department said it is also evaluating whether private-road review should be transferred back to building and planning, a change that could require ordinance adjustments.

Commissioners pressed staff on handling "problem" applications and on where the clock should stop when applicants supply incomplete materials; staff said the review clock pauses when reviewers send comments and restarts upon resubmittal. Staff said they will circulate the active list to commissioners and continue coordinating across Public Works, Environmental Health and Building and Planning so that permits move through the system more quickly.

No formal action was taken; the item was reported and commissioners requested further follow-up and shared documents.