Building staff outline permit backlog, plan for checklists and one‑page online resources

Building department staff told the Planning and Zoning Commission on June 5 that permit activity has been relatively quiet and that staff are using the lull to create one‑page permit checklists, QR-code links and improved web resources.

Kristen Bushnell (building department) said the town will move away from accepting “napkin sketches” and expects clearer plan submissions for building and septic approvals, drawing on International Code Council checklists. Staff said interns are helping digitize roads and building records and produce operations manuals to ensure continuity.

Commissioners asked about older permits listed as open in the town’s records. Bushnell said many of the historical open permits predate the town’s building jurisdiction and remain under county authority; those permits are closed out by county staff and the town will update its records as county records are finalized.

Staff told the commission they will draft and publish submittal checklists and links to model documents and will work with the county where older permits remain open. The discussion was informational and did not include regulatory changes at the meeting.