Planning and Zoning requests staff additions to speed permitting, committee gives favorable recommendation to Maryland Hall fee relief

Chris Jakubiak, director of Planning and Zoning, told the Finance Standing Committee on April 23 that the department has refocused operations to speed permit reviews, is proposing several new or restored positions, and is expanding enforcement capacity for short‑term rentals and property maintenance.

Jakubiak said the department has doubled plan‑review capacity with the hire of a second building plans reviewer and that permit throughput has improved: “We increased our, we doubled our capacity to handle permits,” he said, and reported the office issues roughly 21 permits on average each week. He described a continuing, citywide push to implement the comprehensive plan through rezoning and noted the Tyler Road corridor as an active workstream.

Why it matters: Planning and Zoning proposed staffing enhancements and fee changes the department says will be revenue‑neutral over time by tying increased permit and licensing fees to enforcement and service capacity. Committee members focused on short‑term rentals, property maintenance in subsidized housing, and financial transparency for downtown programs.

Key points

- Staffing and organizational changes: Jakubiak outlined three proposed new positions in the mayor’s budget: a zoning and enforcement planner, an administrative assistant to support the director’s office and an additional property maintenance inspector. He said the department previously shifted a staffer to focus on public housing issues, creating a gap in routine property maintenance inspections that the inspector request is intended to fill.

- Permitting and small business permitting innovations: The department said it is improving customer service and mitigating issues with the EnerGov permitting platform, and it is piloting a “permits administrator” gatekeeper role plus a small advisory group of building community stakeholders to streamline small business permitting.

- Housing rehabilitation and inspections: Jakubiak said the council approved $500,000 for rehabbing units in public housing and that HACA has used an initial tranche (about $166,000) to accelerate unit rehab. He said the department is permitting roughly 10–14 rehabs per week and is pushing toward licensing vacant units so families can move in.

- Short‑term rentals, DAP oversight and downtown funding: The department said short‑term rental violations outstrip current enforcement capacity and that a short‑term rental manager position will be added; the office is mapping licensed vs. unlicensed units to aid enforcement. Jakubiak also described concerns about governance and recordkeeping at the Downtown Annapolis Partnership (DAP) and said the department is considering withholding funding until documentation and compliance improve. The FY26 budget shows a proposed allocation for DAP in the range of $70,000 (including flower/streetscape funds), which the director characterized as consistent with past support but requiring better oversight.

- Admiral Oaks and property conditions: Jakubiak said inspections expanded beyond interior conditions to address flooding, mold and grading problems at Admiral Oaks; he said the city is holding property owners more directly accountable and that remediation work is underway.

Supplemental appropriation and committee action

The committee considered Supplemental Appropriation SA 03/2025 (Reserve for One‑Time Uses Fund) to cover permitting fees for Maryland Hall’s renovation project. Jakubiak described the appropriation as a mechanism to cover high permitting costs that would otherwise delay permit issuance; he said the department has already reviewed and approved Maryland Hall’s plans but has not issued permits pending fee payment.

A committee member moved a favorable recommendation for SA 03/2025; the committee voted in favor by voice and the chair noted the item will proceed to full council. Jakubiak said the city could issue the permit as soon as the council’s approval and the related fee transaction are complete.

Budget and fees

Budget Manager Jay Trudeau told the committee fee increases tied to rental licensing and other permitting changes are expected to generate well over $600,000–$700,000 in additional revenue; he cautioned that fines should be viewed primarily as deterrents rather than recurring revenue sources. The director said some positions approved in the prior budget year (urban forestry positions) were delayed administratively but are included in the FY26 funding picture.

Quotes and attributions

- Director Chris Jakubiak: “We increased our, we doubled our capacity to handle permits, and we are, processing permits. About 21 permits on average every week are issued in the city.”

- Jakubiak on customer service: “We're making commitment to customer service, particularly related to mitigating the effects of of the EnerGov system.”

Clarifying details and figures from the meeting

- Housing rehab: council‑approved $500,000 for rehabbing dwelling units in public housing; an initial tranche of about $166,000 was in active use for unit repairs, per Jakubiak. - Permits: the department reported issuing roughly 21 permits per week on average; the housing rehab effort was described as roughly 10–14 units per week during a strong week. - Fee revenue: Budget Manager Jay Trudeau estimated new or adjusted fees would generate in excess of $600,000–$700,000 (department estimate) and that fines were not being counted as recurring revenue.

Authorities and regulatory context

Jakubiak referenced Title 21 landscaping and forest‑conservation requirements embedded in city code that drive planting and conservation review during permitting, and he said the office must produce defensible findings of fact for board and commission decisions. The office is also implementing a short‑term rental manager and mapping system to track licensed vs. unlicensed units.

Community relevance and next steps

The department said it will continue comprehensive rezoning work, finalize job descriptions and fill approved positions in the FY26 cycle, implement better reporting and tracking for council‑required reports (short‑term rentals, maritime industry, economic conditions), and pursue grants to sustain housing rehabilitation efforts. Jakubiak said plans for Tyler Road and other rezoning work will lead to forthcoming text and map amendments.

Ending

Committee members pressed for more detail on staffing costs and how fee revenue will offset new positions; Jakubiak and Budget Manager Trudeau said they will provide the financial breakout. The committee gave a favorable recommendation for Supplemental Appropriation SA 03/2025 to cover Maryland Hall permitting fees, and Jakubiak said the department can issue the permit once the appropriation has been formally approved and the fee transaction completed.