From the Roundtable: Columbia’s construction permit process a welcome development
The streamlining of Columbia’s construction permit process is a welcome development for the thousands of people engaged in that activity. Many of them have felt increasingly hamstrung and hassled over the years.
City Manager Bill Watkins outlined steps his office and various municipal departments are in the process of implementing during the most recent CBT Power Lunch.
Various national codes and regulations have evolved over the years that, combined with local ordinances, are designed to ensure our safety and welfare. On any given project, this means following the codes, ranging from electricity to fire protection mandated by insurance companies, state and federal governments.
While some may grumble about the local government’s seemingly overarching involvement in these matters, the overall effect over the years has been in our best interest. My own time spent perusing old newspapers recalls the daily horror of death-dealing or otherwise injurious incidents in the past that today are virtually unheard of because of various codes and regulations now in force.
Over the coming months, look for Columbia to implement a one-stop application process with measures designed to reduce the stress between applicants and various city regulatory departments. Watkins’ goal is to “promote safety of all construction through enforcement and documentation of all council-approved building codes.”
The city manager said this would be accomplished through “consistent interpretation and enforcement” through the “expeditious, coordinated plan review and permitting by all city reviewers” with “accountability of both the applicant’s agents” and the “accountability of city staff.” At the same time, both sides would be engaged in the process of free dialogue stressing education and communication with applicants and stakeholders without fear of reprisal.
Beginning with establishing a “one stop” application drop-off point Oct. 1, what comes next should continue the welcome news from City Hall across the development community. This includes establishing a Development Review Committee with the authority “to resolve problems within the approved codes,” involving such city departments as Public Works-Engineering, Water and Light, Fire, Health and so forth.
The recently approved fiscal 2009 city budget sets aside money for an ombudsman to act as the city manager’s interface between the city and its agencies and those it is charged with serving. As part of the evolving and improving communications process, the city will continue to upgrade its computer design and monitoring facilities. 3G cellular network enhancement will facilitate communication with city offices from the field.
There was much positive reaction to Watkins’ remarks from representatives of the development and construction community. For years, they have had to deal with an expanding thicket of codes and regulations administered by a coterie of civil servants in various city departments burdened by turnover and the overall malaise found in most municipalities burdened by limited budgets and inadequate physical facilities.
One of the malaises most communities are now burdened with is stagnant or nonexistent economic growth and development. Columbia and Boone County have been touched by this as sales tax revenues flatten.
This column has regularly noted the importance of the area’s development and construction community as major engines of the local economy. The proposed simplification and streamlining of its procedures by the city couldn’t have come at a more suitable time. Also helpful is the anticipated inclusion of various offices scattered around the city into the municipal office complex downtown that’s now under construction.
Al Germond is the host of the “Columbia Business Times Sunday Morning Roundtable” every Sunday at 8:15 a.m. on kfru. He can be reached at [email protected].