Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Community Development director outlines new staff, permitting software and comprehensive-plan schedule
Summary
Community Development Director Michael Hughes told the council June 11 that the department has new leadership, is rolling out cloud-based permitting and is progressing on a comprehensive plan (Mableton 2045) and several ordinances, including historic-preservation and tree-preservation drafts.
Mableton — Community Development Director Michael Hughes briefed the council June 11 on staffing, code and permitting changes underway and near-term projects for the department.
Hughes said much of the management team has been in place for less than four months and that staff have completed a series of ordinance adoptions and regulatory updates. "A majority of our community development management team actually has been here for less than 4 months," Hughes said, adding that the team is experienced and has accomplished significant work in that time.
Why it matters: Community development work drives permitting timelines, code enforcement and land-use decisions that affect development, housing and public infrastructure.
Permitting and technology: Hughes said the department will roll out Cloudpermit (a cloud permit software) to handle business-license submissions, building permits, planning and zoning, and code enforcement. He also said staff met with ESRI to explore GIS and with a vendor to evaluate Bluebeam for electronic plan review.
Building and inspections: Hughes reported 251 building permits issued and 315 trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) since March 1 and nearly 400 building inspections completed. He said the city obtained a local issuing authority for land disturbance on April 28 and is coordinating land-disturbance reviews with Cobb authorities and Georgia Soil and Water Conservation.
Zoning and boards: The city established a Board of Zoning Appeals and has advanced re-zoning and special-land-use applications through the planning commission. Hughes said a special land-use permit for a soccer club (referred to as the "sworn football club") completed the process and was approved by council; another rezoning for a church on Klipsch Drive is pending before council. He also said staff is developing an historic-preservation ordinance tailored to the Concord historic area and that, when an ordinance is in place, council can appoint a historic-preservation commission.
Staffing and next steps: Hughes said the department is hiring senior planner and planner positions and is considering additional site inspectors. He emphasized work to reduce phone-system issues and to provide clearer public-facing web information about business licensing and permitting requirements.
Ending: Hughes closed by offering to meet one-on-one with council members to review projects in their districts and to provide a public information meeting on the Mableton 2045 comprehensive-plan process; a public meeting was scheduled for June 12 and information can be found at mableton2045.org.
