HomeMy WebLinkAbout081423 RE_ Apparent backlog at Jeffco Environmental Health and PlanningGood morning, David.
Permits are taking a very long time to review and approve. There are a number of causes for this:
* Other jurisdictions have been hiring our new staff as soon as we train them. City of Port Townsend, City of Bainbridge Island, Port Angeles/Clallam County have all done this. We have
improved pay and benefits but we have yet to see this improve our staffing situation. We have a new leadership team that I believe is well equipped to lead the department through the
mess we’ve found ourselves in.
* We have two new processes we’ve implemented to ensure we don’t approve development/building on lots/parcels that can’t be built on for various reasons: these are the Site Development
Review (SDR) and the Legal Lot of Record (LLOR) determination. These processes were developed during a year-long development moratorium caused by a developer who wanted to build ultra-dense
housing on old plats that weren’t zoning compliant. The moratorium caused a huge backlog which is difficult to reduce/eliminate due to the complexity of the processes and our staffing
woes.
* We are bringing on 5-6 consulting firms to help us with building permits and development applications. This will enable us to farm out much of the work. One of these consultants will
be dedicated to serving the new MPR at Pleasant Harbor.
We understand the problems and how to fix them and we are fixing them – but fixes take time. We also understand that sales tax and property tax revenues can be increased by building
and development – that’s why we are investing in higher pay for our employees and hiring outside consultants.
We anticipate that by next summer the backlog will be gone and wait times will be reasonable.
Mark
From: alvarez@olympus.net <alvarez@olympus.net>
Sent: Monday, August 14, 2023 1:29 AM
To: jeffbocc <jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us>; Mark McCauley <MMcCauley@co.jefferson.wa.us>; jpeters@co.jeffersom.wa.us; Pinky Mingo <PMingo@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Subject: Apparent backlog at Jeffco Environmental Health and Planning
Commissioners and Mark McCauley, Josh and Pinky.
I have heard from a general contractor friend that there is a bottleneck at the permit review departments, specifically Environmental Health and building permit review in DCD. Permits
are taking a long time to get to approval or so I hear. Apparently it is a staffing issue.
This email is based on the assumption that there are delays in getting permits based on staff shortages. If this is not true, then ignore this email. I've been on your side of this discussion
for many years and don't want to set up as my premise false information.
I want to add I know this is just one of many burning issues you are facing. Easy for me to toss in suggestions.
If it is true, then think of the revenue that is being lost.
First, the sales tax on the raw materials that go into building a single family residence or SFR.
So new construction of a SFR, for example, adds $500,000 to the assessed value in the County. That translates into about $1,000 every year for the county general fund and if inside
the city another $900 to the City general fund. And adds approximately$1,010 for the county general fund in the second year, not accounting for the lower levy rate because the total
assessed value goes up each year. Money the County and City could use.
So how expedite permit review? looks like you need more EH Specialists and permit technicians.
Can you send the applications to Kitsap or Clallam County for review, pay them a flat fee for each review?
Is there a private firm that would do permit review and septic review? Would need $$$ and a contract.
Can there be a "fast track" pile for any conventional septic system designed and signed off on by a septic designer that EH knows and trusts?
Can you hire some temp workers for a 4 month contract starting November 1 and ending March 1 with the promise that they don't have to move their families, instead the County will provide
them with a hotel room at the Aladdin Hotel every Sunday thru Thursday for 4 months, approximately 85 nights! A hotel owner might like to know he has 85 nights sold during the winter
doldrums. Get a volume discount from the hotel owner when (s)he knows the County is a solid citizen and won't skip out on the bills.
In this day and age can reviews be done remotely? other than inspections at the location once septic or house are in place. Maybe less need for hotel rooms. OK Boomer!
If the backlog was at least relieved or reduced over the winter, the summer of 2024 could be a boom time for all the GCs to build houses and install septic systems, the latter of which
can't happen in the wet season.
Like I said, easy for me to write this email sitting on the sidelines.
David Alvarez