Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Planning And Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning department says hires and system updates have cut permit backlog; townhome UDC exception debated
Summary
Staff described new hires, the transition to an updated MGO Connect permitting platform, and falling permit backlogs after a tornado-related spike; council also discussed a Temple townhome project that requires a hammerhead-street exception, raising concerns about solid-waste access and detention-pond placement.
Planning and development staff told council they have reclassified and filled key positions, added permit technicians and inspectors, and upgraded the permit platform to an updated MGO Connect interface — changes they said have substantially reduced a post-tornado backlog of permit applications.
The department reported 19,318 permit applications in the past fiscal year (a spike tied to storm recovery) and said new hires and process adjustments have allowed the department to get back to a more manageable queue. Staff highlighted several hires by name (Angie Sotomayor, Eric Clovinish, Maria Herrera, Allison the deputy building official and John McGowan, chief building official) and said better staffing has improved plan review and inspection throughput.
Council also discussed a townhome plat (Nama's Temple) requiring an exception because the street ends in a hammerhead rather than a cul-de-sac. Staff and solid-waste representatives said hammerhead designs will still require some backing by collection trucks but might be logistically preferable to a cul-de-sac in this high-density layout, while fire and police raised questions about access and detention-pond clearance.
Staff recommended approving the exception with conditions and using this case to inform future UDC amendments on cul-de-sac dimensions and solid-waste handling for dense townhome projects. No final vote was recorded in the workshop.
