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Planning department says new software and staff cut average permit turnaround to 12 days for residential
Summary
Planning Director reported a 70% reduction in average plan-review turnaround times after hiring specialist staff and enhancing the ADQ/ABQ Plan system; councilors asked for performance targets and separation of fast-track data for clearer accountability.
Planning Director Alan Varela told the Committee of the Whole that the department has reduced average permit turnaround times sharply after adding plan-review staff and enhancing the ADQ/ABQ Plan digital system.
"We've reduced permitting speeds by 70% over the last two years," Varela said, adding that residential permit issuance averaged about 12 days in the most recent period (down from roughly 40) and commercial issuance averaged about 27 days (down from 98). He credited $450,000 in targeted funding and ongoing system modifications that let staff track limbo time between application submission and reviewer queue placement.
Councilors pushed for explicit targets and requested separate metrics that exclude expedited or "Fast Track" permits so year-to-year comparisons are meaningful. Varela said his goal includes creating a guaranteed fast-track option (target 10 days or less) while ultimately aiming to make fast-track unnecessary by improving baseline speed.
Varela also said the software build-out for the ABQ Plan system is complete and operational improvements continue; the department has made roughly 190 iterative software modifications since launch. Councillors asked for future reporting that distinguishes Fast Track and Fast Housing results from the broader permit universe and for the department to show how fee increases tie to measurable improvements in turnaround and service.
