JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The City of Jacksonville announced new efforts on Thursday it says will help streamline the civil plan review process.
This process includes a technical review of the horizontal construction aspects of development projects, according to the city’s website.
This review is needed for most major projects such as new construction, substantial improvements, road construction, subdivisions, major utility construction and parking.
“We analyzed the entire process from start to finish to identify the pinch points and potential solutions. The outcome is bringing more people and resources to the process, educating the developer community and bringing in technology to make it all work more efficiently,” Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said during the news conference.
The 8-point plan to streamline the civil plan review process involves:
- Moving development services into public works
- Identifying key areas where inefficiencies currently exist
- Hosting 3 industry forums to engage directly with developers and contractors
- Contracting with consultants to provide additional resources in critical areas to make best use of staff and move plan reviews faster
- Moving civil plan reviews into JaxEPICS to provide a platform to track progress and make it easier for applicants to get permits through process
- Transitioning legacy paper processes to digital platforms
- Evaluating express lane permitted option, which allows expedited reviews for an additional fee
- Evaluating feasibility of private provider program to allow certification of external professionals to be contracted by the applicants to conduct certain reviews
Deegan also touted her administration’s progress in reducing the time it takes to get a building permit in Jacksonville, which she says is now 40 days compared to 100.