City aims to improve permit process

Spokane Valley is asking its builders and residents how the city can make its system for issuing permits run more smoothly.

Project delays and complaints from developers who said it was taking too long for things like building permits and subdivision requests to be approved prompted the City Council recently to fund five new positions to handle the demands of development.

In addition to the hiring, managers at the city also are looking at ways they might be able to overhaul the process for obtaining a permit to make it more efficient.

A public forum on the topic has been scheduled from 7:30 to 9 a.m., Friday, in the council chambers at City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague Ave.

City officials hope to gather ideas on how to improve the often complicated processes required for different types of building permits to be reviewed.

Ideas already in the works include designating three senior staff members in the building, planning and engineering divisions as people applicants can contact directly to clarify an aspect of their permit or notify if something seems inconsistent in the process of applying for it, city spokeswoman Carolbelle Branch said in a release.

The city also is considering new flow charts to illustrate the steps it takes to apply for various types of permits.

People seeking more information about the meeting and the changes to the permitting process can call 688-0232.