Planning + Development Services Department

The Planning and Development Services Department helps the community plan for the future, assures resident safety, and supports neighborhoods.

Planning and Development Services includes staff from several divisions.

Current Planning

Current planning staff:

• Applies the City’s long-range goals to development proposals.
• Assist developers submitting applications for development.
• Help residents understand the development review process and how to get involved.
• Supports the City Council, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Landmarks Commission on land use and development issues.

Strategic Planning

The strategic planning division:

• Considers the City’s long range plans.
• Studies development needs of special areas of the city.
• Reviews the City’s comprehensive plan annually.
• Operates the neighborhood conservation program, which helps sustain aging neighborhoods that do not have homeowner’s associations.
• Supports other planning and City staff with geographic information systems.

Building Safety

The building safety division:

• Reviews construction plans for compliance with building codes, engineering standards, and environmental requirements.
• Provides detailed inspections of construction activity throughout the building process.

Community Services

The community services division supports the community with:

• A strong code enforcement program
• Inspections of restaurants and public and semi-public pools
• A comprehensive trash and recycling program
• Housing assistance programs

Engineering Services

The engineering services division reviews construction plans for site development requirements related to streets, stormwater, streetlights, grading, erosion control, traffic, water quality, floodplain development, and other civil engineering issues.

Permit Services

The permit services division provides support to staff and residents submitting permit applications, and processes building permits.