05/12/2013
Greetings, I hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of Spring that just can't make up its mind about warming up or not. I know it's been a while since last we spoke. The reason is because permit submissions are up, WAY UP! That of course has positives as well as negatives. Let's look at the negatives first. Many of the jurisdictions, because of the economic down turn a few years ago, were forced to furlough and/or lay off workers who dealt with submittals and reviews of permit applications. This of course means, in many cases wait times are up, WAY UP! Wait times just to get an application into the system, wait times to get an application reviewed, wait times to get the permit issued, wait times to get inspections of the project made.
Are all of the "negatives" I just spoke of really negatives? I, for one have to say no, for the most part. While some jurisdictions have simply gone along with the status quo' during the slow times, most have taken the time to really look at their system and process to get permit applications in and permits out. Many jurisdictions may have lost some positions but have put a lot of focus on training, retraining and cross training the people that do the jobs necessary to get permits out and building projects going. Most permit centers are becoming more and more predictable in their process. Is there room for improvement? Of course there is, as it should be with all of us.
The positive effect of permits being up are so numerous. Besides all of the folks involved directly with the permitting process being able to hone our craft there are SO many people able to get back to work on a daily basis and now having to worry about will there be work next week. I see more and more concrete mixers, lumber trucks, cranes on the skyline, guys and gals waiting in line at the lunch truck it makes me feel proud that the permit for that job started with me or one of my colleagues and now look at how many people are affected.
Until the next time we talk, keep looking up, WAY UP!
