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Developers, planning commissioners and residents urge Atwater to speed up permitting and hold a pre‑permit forum
Summary
Developers and planning commissioners urged the council to address permit delays and inconsistent requirements; Andy Krotic and others said slow turnaround and new requirements have delayed projects and cost developers time and money, and planning commissioners suggested a developer forum to resolve pre‑permit bottlenecks.
Multiple developers and community members used public comment time on Dec. 8 to press the Atwater City Council for faster, clearer permitting and better coordination with builders.
Andy Krotic (speaker 9), who said he has decades of experience with local projects, described repeated delays in plan review and site-plan approvals and urged the council to increase Community Development staffing and streamline processes. "It should not take Brad Pickle 10 days to get a permit to put a roof out of house. It should not take me 10 days to get a permit. It should be an over the counter deal," Krotic said, calling for a "deep dive" into departmental practices after citing an $8,000 plan still unresolved since March.
Sean Drakeley (speaker 18) of the Planning Commission recommended a focused community forum that would bring contractors, developers and staff together to address pre‑permit application bottlenecks and speed project approvals. City Manager (speaker 16) and staff responded that they will work with community development and consider a workshop; councilmembers encouraged a targeted meeting to identify the largest obstacles.
Why it matters: Several speakers said permitting delays have led to lost projects and slowed economic development; the council signaled willingness to convene stakeholders and directed staff to pursue follow‑up.
Next steps: Staff will coordinate with the Planning Commission to schedule a forum or workshop with developers and contractors to evaluate the pre‑permit application process and identify reforms.
