Planning staff says midyear permit reviews steady; commissioners ask for building-permit issuance data

Derek Shear of the Plan Division presented the commission with a midyear permitting update showing planning staff conducted 609 plan reviews so far this year and 233 inspections year-to-date. He broke out recent monthly activity as 122 planning reviews in April, 91 in May, and 118 in June, and said planning applications submitted per month were 27 in April, 37 in May and 45 in June, with 213 total P&Z applications year-to-date.

"So far this year, planning staff has looked at 609 different reviews," Derek Shear said. He described the figures as consistent with a gradual increase in development activity since 2022 and said the planning division would provide further data on specific permit types if requested. Commissioner Robertson praised the report as informative and requested that staff supplement future reports with data on construction permits that have been issued for major projects (for example, large commercial or industrial builds) so the public can see which projects have moved to construction. Staff agreed to provide that information at future meetings. Commissioners also suggested publishing the planning update quarterly unless there is a large uptick that warrants more frequent reporting.

The presentation included a list of plats and final plats approved year-to-date, including approvals tied to Hoaginess Farms Phase 1 and other local subdivisions. Staff clarified that building-permit issuance is handled by Building Safety (not the planning division) and that planning can supply cross-checked data on major projects when requested. The commission set the next meeting for Aug. 24 and did not move into executive session.