Speeding the Planning Process
[Excerpted from SBN-P, 2/21/2005: "As developers dally, revenue takes a dive" by Joshua Molina]:
Mr. Levy... suggested the slowdown in issuing permits is probably an aberration because of the weather. "From a capital and financial standpoint the economy is actually very good," Mr. Levy said. "I can't imagine that any of these projects is being held up because of financing."
Like Mr. Bermant, Mr. Levy said the larger problem is the speed of the city's review process. While he said the extensive review process helps make a project better, it does slow the developer down.
Santa Barbara's high cost of living also plays a role, he said.
"They have the problem that we all have, and that is finding adequate staff people to come in and do the work that needs to be done," Mr. Levy said.
Santa Barbara City Councilman Das Williams, a member of the city's Finance Committee, said he hopes to address developers' concerns by looking at raising developer fees so more planners can be hired, which should speed up the review process. It's an idea that Mr. Bermant said he supports.
But for now, Mr. Williams says he is not concerned about the slowdown.
"Right now, it doesn't concern me," he said. "These fees will eventually come in. I think it's the rain, and I think on some of the biggest projects, it's financing and other complications of getting things done."
[For the full text of the article, please go to: As developers dally, revenue takes a dive]
Mr. Levy... suggested the slowdown in issuing permits is probably an aberration because of the weather. "From a capital and financial standpoint the economy is actually very good," Mr. Levy said. "I can't imagine that any of these projects is being held up because of financing."
Like Mr. Bermant, Mr. Levy said the larger problem is the speed of the city's review process. While he said the extensive review process helps make a project better, it does slow the developer down.
Santa Barbara's high cost of living also plays a role, he said.
"They have the problem that we all have, and that is finding adequate staff people to come in and do the work that needs to be done," Mr. Levy said.
Santa Barbara City Councilman Das Williams, a member of the city's Finance Committee, said he hopes to address developers' concerns by looking at raising developer fees so more planners can be hired, which should speed up the review process. It's an idea that Mr. Bermant said he supports.
But for now, Mr. Williams says he is not concerned about the slowdown.
"Right now, it doesn't concern me," he said. "These fees will eventually come in. I think it's the rain, and I think on some of the biggest projects, it's financing and other complications of getting things done."
[For the full text of the article, please go to: As developers dally, revenue takes a dive]
Posted by Malcolm on
2/22/2005
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2 Comments
Thanks Dad for getting the site up. I'm honored. I'll send out some junkmail this week to see if more people show-up.
-das
I'm glad you like it, son. The DAS Blog is meant to give people a sense of where you stand on issues important for all Santa Barbarians to know about. Coming from your father, the blog has an obvious favorable slant, but I'm putting other people's criticisms and concerns in here, too... Love, DAD
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