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Planning budget picks up comp-plan rewrite; building department rolls out online permitting
Summary
Staff told council the comprehensive-plan rewrite has been moved into the planning budget (previous $100,000 executive hold) and that the new online permitting platform is installed and functioning; staff cautioned online submittal will not necessarily shorten total review times given third-party reviewer workflows.
A planning presenter told council that the comp-plan rewrite — previously budgeted in the executive budget at $100,000 — has been moved into the planning budget and that staff expect to complete much of the remaining chapters internally but reserve funds for consultant help if technical elements such as transportation need outside expertise. "Last year, it was budgeted for $100,000," the presenter said, and described the reasoning behind the budget reallocation.
The building department reported that the online permitting platform is installed and functioning and will eliminate paper submittals, but that it is another submission pathway rather than a guaranteed speed-up in reviews because third-party reviewers and contractors operate on separate timelines. Councilors raised concerns about long review queues and said they were watching proposed legislation that would require a 10-day completeness review in some jurisdictions.
