Kansas City, Missouri – Aiming at enhancing its service delivery and accelerating city development, Kansas City’s Planning and Development Department is going through a transforming change. Under Mario Vasquez’s direction, the recently hired Director of Planning & Development, the department has presented a bold strategy to improve customer service, lower procedural delays, and expedite approval processes.
Reflecting Kansas municipal’s expansion and the dynamic demands of its residents and developers, the new strategy modifications are meant to meet the rising need for efficient and effective municipal planning services.
“There is a tremendous appetite for investment and reinvestment in Kansas City. Processes within the City Planning and Development Department need to adapt to meet the demand and to make sure they are consistent, reliable, and efficient,” Vasquez said in a statement.
Key to the department’s new strategy is the introduction of several pivotal improvements:
- Expanded Project Services:Â There will be a more focused emphasis on helping customers by adding a dedicated team of development managers and concierges that can assist projects at every step of the development process, assisting with economic feasibility and incentives, entitlements, building plan reviews, permitting, inspections, and certificates of occupancy.
- Reduced Plan Review Timelines: The department is slashing the timeline for reviews for minor revisions, minor resubmissions, and minor changes from 14 days to just 3.
- In-Person, Same-Day Plan Reviews: An over-the-counter review team will be restored, available by appointment, to offer same-day permit and application reviews and approvals, bringing back face-to-face service.
- Consistency in Review:Â Provided schedules allow, we will strive to keep a single reviewer or inspector for the entire project, promoting consistency and clear communication.
- Increased Staff for Permits Division: Additional permit review staff will be hired to accelerate the timeline for issuing permits.
- Continued Use of Third-Party Inspectors: We will emphasize the availability of third-party inspectors, which will help us cut down on inspection delays and alleviate bottlenecks, especially during peak periods.
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The department is also changing its organization to better match its activities. Currently combined with the Water Services and Public Works Departments, land development services help to further streamline operations and promote departmental cooperation.
An expert consultant will do a thorough process assessment to guarantee the operations of the department are as effective as they may be. This review will concentrate on cutting pointless stages, removing repetitions, and using technology to improve procedural effectiveness. To guarantee better first submissions from developers, the agency is also investigating the possibilities of artificial intelligence in planning.
Constant improvement of the department’s procedures depends much on client comments. Large-scale, city-initiated projects under the direction of a recently established project management office will be guaranteed to be properly handled.
City Manager Brian Platt emphasized the broader implications of these changes, stating.
” By improving service and cutting red tape, we’re ensuring that development in Kansas City moves forward smoothly and supports our city’s continued growth,” Platt said.
Kansas City is becoming more and more appealing for new investments and projects since the Planning and Development Department’s new projects will be very important in supporting the future growth of the city as it keeps expanding.
