Development Services Review. Final Report. Zucker July 2016

Morgan Hill, California

Zucker Systems

XPEDITED

LAN

EVIEW

Our focus group meetings with industry representatives throughout the country have

consistently expressed strong interest in having the ability to have their projects

expedited through the plan review and approval process. They often recognize that

this is an extraordinary service for which they expect to pay a premium. For many

communities, the ability to offer expedited plan review is perceived to be a significant

enticement to attract desirable commercial projects into their community. The City of

Morgan Hill does not offer a comprehensive program that would include expedited

review by staff in all of the participating departments.

We are aware that developers have been advised they can expect a more rapid review

of their planning applications if they agreed to have the review work performed by an

outside planning consultant for an additional fee. This process is discussed in more

detail in the Planning section of this report; however, it is not being offered by staff

from the Building Division or Public Works/Engineering. We recommend that the

City establish an Expedited Review program that would apply to all Departments

participating in the review process. Jurisdictions that successfully offer this type of

service structure the program so that it does not impact the normal flow of

applications by securing additional resources through staff overtime or the use of

outside consultant staff. To be truly effective, it is essential that projects be closely

tracked to help insure that the expedited performance standard is being achieved.

Recommendation:

The Assistant City Manager should work with the City

Engineer, Community Development Director, and Building Official to

create an Expedited Review Program that guarantees reduced processing

times in exchange for a fee premium.

Recommendation

: Projects participating in the Expedited Review Program

should be closely monitored in the TRAKiT system to confirm that

expedited performance standards are being achieved.

INANCE

SSUES

Overview

Development related activities are supported primarily from the Community

Development Fund (206) and the General Plan Update Fund (207). These funds are

described in the FY 15-16 budget as follows:

Community Development Fund (206)