But it could someday save people some headaches as they try to get permission to build in the city of Waterbury.
That customer-service innovation has already benefited developers and builders in Honolulu, who can monitor the planning department's Web site to figure when their turn in line might arrive. The rationale behind posting the customer-service ticker online in Hawaii is that parking is tight and architects and builders don't have time to wait in line.
"It's just some things that could be done, each one of which is going to require a lot of discussion," Sequin said of the draft document he prepared to move the city toward modernizing and streamlining its permitting process.
Over the past year, the city's Web site has grown to include not only local zoning regulations, but downloadable applications for building permits and zone changes.
E-government innovations are just part of what could be a major reform of city departments that often still use typewriters and three-ring binders to track permits.
Also included in Sequin's proposal is combining the City Plan Commission and the Zoning Commission, an idea that has been talked about informally and could get a major boost if the Board of Aldermen convenes a Charter Revision Commission next year.
Sequin also suggested that city officials discuss folding the Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission into a newly formed planning and zoning board.
Many subdivisions and other major projects require approvals from all three commissions. In those cases, the approval process can take up to six months to navigate.
"If we combined them you might be able to move business quicker," said Alderman Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. "In a way it sort of makes sense because they're all looking at slightly different aspects of the same thing."
Before any of the major reforms to the charter or the structure of government take place, the city is contemplating funding and methods to streamline general permits.
In Waterbury, if someone wants to build a house, it could take multiple visits to as many as five offices on different floors of City Hall.
Danbury eliminated that runaround when it opened a one-stop permitting center in 2001.
"The permit center would take in all the documents to do a project," said Danbury's permit coordinator, Sean Hearty. "We'll take care of all of it and we'll get you all your permits."
Tradesmen and developers who frequently need city permits also can apply for and receive them online if they attend a city-sponsored seminar, Hearty said.
No timetable has been set for Waterbury to begin modernization of its permit process. Sheila O'Malley, chief of staff to Mayor Michael J. Jarjura, said the administration is committed to funding at least some of the innovations Sequin is suggesting.
The Waterbury Regional Chamber and the Waterbury Development Corp. also are promising some funding and technical expertise.
To Know More:
- Honolulu Permitting Center: www.honoluludpp.org/
- Danbury Permitting Center: www.ci.danbury.ct.us/content/41/164/233/default.aspx
- Waterbury Building Department: www.waterburyct.org/content/500/537/default.aspx
- Waterbury Planning Department: www.waterburyct.org/content/500/551/default.aspx
Autor: Steve Gambini
Quelle: Republican American, 14.12.2005