DPD and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) have responded to the Mayor’s Executive Order to align the permitting process for private development at DPD and right-of-way development at SDOT. After a multi-year process with input from community stakeholders and City staff, we will soon be aligning our individual permitting processes at key points (see schedule at right).

Our goals for the alignment are to improve the permit applicant’s experience, to strengthen communication and coordination between DPD and SDOT, and to meet the executive order targets for initial plan review. Key components of the new alignment are:

• Applicants will learn about street improvement requirements prior to applying for their construction permits, which will allow them to better assess the cost and impacts of the proposed improvements.
• Exceptions and exemptions from full right-of-way improvements will be determined prior to application.
• Timing of application for street improvements at SDOT and construction permits at DPD will be concurrent—a shift from sequential review. This will reduce conflicts between building plans and street improvement plans.
• Review will be facilitated by regular communication between DPD and SDOT on project progress and development proposal changes.

There are three main aspects to the new approach:

• Inform
  SDOT and DPD have formalized information sharing during the application preparation phase of development. A project questionnaire begins the conversation and it continues with pre-submittal coordination and a conference if necessary. When an applicant has sufficient information to begin application and completes the questionnaire, DPD will be able to determine the right-of-way requirements associated with the proposal. DPD and SDOT will communicate frequently during this phase of permitting. It is at this point that exemptions or exceptions to right-of-way improvements are identified and processed.
• Consult
  The consultation begun during pre-submittal will extend into the review and inspections stages of permitting and construction. At key points, the reviewers at the two departments will consult on issues that may affect the other department’s permits. These points would be, at a minimum, during plan review, when development plans are revised, at permit issuance and during construction.
• Inspect
  Inspectors from DPD and SDOT will be working more closely as the project is built. SDOT will contribute to DPD’s pre-construction conferences by identifying right-of-way issues that may affect construction, and if necessary, attend the pre-construction conference. There will be closer interaction between the SDOT site inspector and plan reviewer. DPD will confer with SDOT on requirements necessary prior to a Certificate of Occupancy (COO).

Pilot Project
In November 2005, DPD and SDOT will begin testing and refining the permit alignment through a pilot project using a select group of applicants. We intend to collect information on the effectiveness of the alignment, adjust internal processes, and assess the benefits to our applicants. Applicants will be chosen based on the scope of the proposal and timing of application. The pilot project will test some key issues in the new alignment including:

• Applicants will be required to provide more detailed information on projects earlier in the process.
• Coordinated decisions for street improvements will occur earlier so that applicants will receive early determinations regarding basic street improvement requirements.
• Applicants will have the opportunity to apply for Street Improvement Exceptions/Exemptions prior to application submittal.
• Initial plan review will be completed simultaneously by DPD and SDOT.
• Project costs related to earlier design decisions may shift.