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Normandy Park names Jeremy Hammer as community development director; he outlines permitting, comprehensive‑plan priorities
Summary
Jeremy Hammer, who started Jan. 5, introduced himself as Normandy Park’s new community development director and told the planning commission he is working to reduce permit backlogs, expand electronic permitting and secure PSRC certification of the city’s comprehensive plan to protect grant eligibility.
Jeremy Hammer introduced himself to the planning commission as Normandy Park’s new community development director and said he began in the role on Jan. 5. "My name is Jeremy Hammer. I'm the new community development director. I began in January, January 5 to be exact," he said.
Hammer told commissioners he has filled an assistant‑planner/permit‑tech position to address a permit backlog from December and January and is expanding electronic permitting tools. He said the city plans to use SmartGov, a permit‑tracking platform, to shorten review times and make permitting more efficient.
The director said he is also working with the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) to address gaps in the comprehensive plan — notably documentation showing where emergency‑housing capacity exists and clarifications across income bands — so the plan can be certified. "Some of those were, the emergency housing…we're filling those gaps so we can have a certified comprehensive plan and then move forward with a lot of other work following that," Hammer said.
When commissioners pressed him on timing, Hammer estimated a spring or summer completion if reviews and PSRC feedback go smoothly, but cautioned that the city is already beyond some interim state deadlines. He warned that, during the interim, certain state requirements could override local code and noted that lacking certification could make the city ineligible for some grant funds.
The commission also heard that Chloe Ryan, a new assistant planner/permit technician who joined the city from the Pierce County auditor’s office and who graduated from UW Tacoma, began work the day of the meeting. Hammer said Ryan’s hire is part of the effort to reduce the permit backlog.
The commission had no formal action on Hammer’s items beyond discussion and question‑and‑answer; staff said they will return with drafts and next steps as the PSRC review proceeds.
