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No Comments [ Add Comment ]Online system to track applications
By Scott SchwebkeOGDEN --
A local construction boom has prompted the city to implement an innovative online system that enables developers to track the progress of site plan applications.
With the click of a computer mouse, developers can receive feedback from city officials as applications wind their way through the approval process, said Community and Economic Development Director Dave Harmer.
"With all the (construction) activity going on in Ogden, the workload (in processing applications) is going up significantly," Harmer said, explaining why the online tracking system is needed. "It provides better service to developers and better communications between the city and them."
The city received 230 land-use applications in 2006
Implementation of the system earlier this month hasn't resulted in any additional expenses because the city is using existing software.
The city plans to expand the system in July to include monitoring for construction, subdivision, building permit, and inspection applications.
There are currently six site plan applications being monitored through the tracking system, said JoAnn Brookins, the city's engineering project coordinator.
Carl Greene, a project manager for McNeil Engineering in Salt Lake City who has submitted a site plan application for a church parking lot project, said the online system will be helpful in monitoring comments from city officials.
"I will know what they are thinking a lot faster than I would have before," he said.
Developers who submit applications are given a protected password enabling them to access the system. While developers are permitted to share passwords with architects, builders and others involved in their project, the public can't access the system.
City officials can also use the system to share comments and questions about applications with each other.
The system doesn't allow developers to answer questions, update applications, or submit documents online, but those features may eventually be added, Harmer said.
Until then, those tasks must be completed in person.
Prior to implementation of the system, developers were required to keep track on their own of feedback from city officials, Harmer said. In addition, the city occasionally encountered difficulty keeping tabs on questions and comments from various departments, he said.
In addition to implementation of the online system, the city has also assigned three project coordinators to assist developers with the application process. The city also sponsors weekly meetings in which developers can discuss projects with municipal officials.
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