Work group considers extending 70-day default approval period to reduce errors

A recurring theme was whether the state's or county's default timelines are realistic given reviewer workload and the complexity of applications. Mr. Smith argued that the current 70-day default-approval rule can force rushed or incomplete filings and proposed extending the period to 90 days with interim checkpoints: "If 70 days is not adequate given the staff resources, given the applicant's resources, then maybe change that rule from 70 days to something more like 90 days and to set a hard stop somewhere along the way," he said.