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Planning department to adopt electronic permitting, starts comprehensive plan work
Summary
Planning Director Zach Gordon said the department is implementing the Accela electronic permitting system (code enforcement and zoning permits live; electronic plan review coming soon) and will begin a comprehensive strategic plan to guide the town’s long‑range land use and economic development goals.
Planning Director Zach Gordon told council the department is now staffed, is rolling out an electronic permitting platform and is preparing to start a comprehensive strategic plan that will guide zoning, town center and long‑range policy work.
Gordon said the town has joined neighboring jurisdictions in implementing Accela. Code enforcement and administrative (zoning) permits are online; staff expects electronic plan review to be operational soon. He said the electronic platform will allow daily reporting, faster front‑end vetting through the development review committee and clearer expectations about consistent time frames for applicants.
Gordon also said the town will begin a multi‑year comprehensive strategic plan in FY26 to set course for the next seven to ten years. He flagged three near‑term priorities: updating the Unified Development Ordinance text, finishing the town‑center plan and implementing online development maps to increase transparency about pending applications and capital projects.
Why it matters
Gordon said rapid population growth — the town is trending roughly +1,000 residents per year and reached about 24,000 residents in 2024 — makes clearer permitting processes and long‑range planning critical. He said a front‑loaded development review model reduces time spent on repeated comments and improves predictability for applicants.
Council reaction
Council members asked whether planning will work closely with the new economic development director; Gordon said he will coordinate with economic development and will present more public‑facing materials (short how‑to YouTube videos, development‑project maps) as tools to increase transparency.
Next steps
Gordon said code enforcement is shifting toward more proactive enforcement and that board education for the recently split Planning & Zoning/Board of Adjustment boards will continue. The comprehensive plan work will begin in FY26 and carry into FY27, with public engagement planned.
Ending
The planning presentation emphasized process modernization and public transparency to match the town’s continued growth and the council’s economic development priorities.
