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<br />Housing Tools and Strategies Action Inventory 4 In-progress Actions <br />A. Remove Barriers in the Land Use Code <br />Action Explanation Level of <br />Support <br />Impact <br />Does this action increase housing affordability, <br />availability, and/or diversity <br /> <br />This action is related to the improvements to the <br />Clear and Objective standards currently <br />underway at the City. City Council approved of <br />the concept to allow these planning processes to <br />run concurrently. Concept approval is step one. In <br />May 2019, City Council will be able to initiate the <br />changes. <br /> <br />B. Reduce Cost and Time Burden <br />Action Explanation Level of <br />Support <br />Impact <br />Does this action increase housing affordability, <br />availability, and/or diversity <br />Cost- <br />1 <br />Streamline/speed up the <br />permitting process. <br />The City issues land use and building permits in <br />the order the applications come in. The time <br />required to review and approve a permit depends <br />on the volume of applications, staff capacity, and <br />the completeness of the permit application. <br /> <br />Previously, the City utilized internal processes to <br />prioritize and expedite green buildings. This <br />means that green building applications got <br />bumped to the front of the line when submitted <br />for permits. <br />HTS working <br />group strongly <br />supported this <br />option (93%). No <br />one in the WG <br />opposed it. <br />Yes – The length of time a permit is processed by City <br />staff affects a builder’s costs. Reducing the time can <br />reduce costs. The City’s permitting staff have made <br />strides to improve the permitting process, notably <br />with the recently implemented eBuild program. <br /> <br />Prioritizing staff dedicated to the building and land <br />use permitting processes for certain housing types <br />could expedite review times. To reduce the approval <br />time for missing-middle types, the City could <br />explicitly move those applications to the ‘front of the <br />line.’ This would move other non-prioritized projects <br />further back in the line. BPS and Public Works are <br />reviewing the practicality and equity of <br />implementing such a program. <br />Cost- <br />2 <br />Clarify requirements for <br />stormwater treatment for <br />rehabilitation and infill <br />developments <br />Stormwater treatment requirements are largely <br />based on federal and state regulations. <br />From BHT. Unknown - Builders perceive that the City interprets <br />those regulations in a way that makes it <br />unnecessarily costly to construct housing on infill <br />sites. City staff are working to clarify if there is an <br />opportunity to meet regulations in less costly ways. <br />March 13, 2019, Work Session - Item 2