DATE:
August 18, 2021 and September 1, 2021
05
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM:
SECOND CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCES: PROPOSED ORDINANCE CHANGES TO PROVIDE FINAL ENGINEERING FLEXIBILITY (08/18/2021 - 1st Reading; 09/01/2021 - 2nd Reading) (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
On August 18, 2021 (02), the Board of Supervisors took action to further consider and adopt the Ordinances on September 1, 2021.
On February 12, 2020, (6), the Board of Supervisors (Board) directed staff in the Department of Planning & Development Services (PDS),) to reduce time and costs of discretionary permit processing across seven categories and return to the Board with recommendations for review and direction. The discretionary permitting process requires various technical studies and analyses, multiple stages of evaluation, and the determination of compliance with policies and regulations, all of which can be a costly and lengthy process. PDS staff has prepared options to increase discretionary permit processing efficiencies that reduce time and costs for customers, as well as make the process more predictable and transparent. All seven categories are described in the background section of the Board Letter. One of the categories is the subject of this Board Letter, as described below.
The Board directed staff to return with the Proposed Ordinance Changes to Provide Final Engineering Flexibility (Final Engineering Flexibility) by February 2023. This effort will not reduce the quality of PDS review of permit applications or create shortcuts or loopholes in the permitting process that would impact public safety, quality of life, environmental protection, or limit intended public participation. Instead, the effort allows applicants some flexibility when responding to outside agency conditions, without having to necessarily go through new permitting with the County as currently required.
The discretionary permit process applies to projects tha...
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