Community Development Staffers Walk Citizens Through Permitting Process During Chamber Breakfast

A panel from the Los Alamos County Community Development Department walked the audience through the County permitting processes at the Chamber Business Breakfast Aug. 8 at UNM-Los Alamos. From left, Principal Planner Ryan Foster, Community Development Director Paul Andrus and Building Safety Manager Michael Arellano. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
 
By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bjgordon623@gmail.com
 
The Los Alamos County Community Development Department strives to make the permitting process fast and painless, but it’s not always easy, Director Paul Andrus said.
 
Andrus was part of a three-member panel that included Principal Planner Ryan Foster and Building Safety Manager Michael Arellano. They walked those attending the Chamber Business Breakfast Aug. 8 through the process and spoke about how to navigate it more easily.
 
The involvement of a number of different departments is one hurdle, Andrus said.
 
“We can’t sign off without input from other departments, so we negoiate with them to keep things moving,” he said.
 
New permitting software is helping to streamline things, Arellano said.
 
“Residential permits used to take 15 days, but we’ve got it down to three,” he said. “Plus, people can submit applications and plans online.”
 
It’s important to know the full scope of a project to give a correct answer to the questions business owners and citizens have, he said.
 
Foster said his chief goals are to make sure the County Comprehensive Plan is implemented and to provide good service to the community.
 
“We’re reaching out to all the departments in the County to provide feedback on applications,” he said.
 
When asked about the sign code, a thorny problem for many local businesses, Foster said his department is “here to help”.
 
“Our staff is available to talk about your project,” he said. “Give us a call and we’ll set up a meeting.”
 
For more information, contact the Community Development Department at 505.662.8120 or cdd@lacnm.us.
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