DPD -- Permits: Permit Pipeline, Sept

Permit Pipeline

Keeping you updated with the latest permit-related news and developments within DPD each month.

September / October 2009

Stormwater, Grading and Drainage Control Codes Take Effect on Nov. 30 The Seattle City Council revised the city's stormwater, grading and drainage control code. The changes apply to every project in the city and encourage use of green stormwater infrastructure. Changes take effect on Nov. 30. Revisions make the city code equivalent to Ecology's 2005 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington. The changes were required by the end of this year. The stormwater, grading and drainage control code and associated Directors’ Rules are being revised to account for advances in urban stormwater runoff management practices. These regulations are in place to protect life, property, public health and the environment from the adverse impacts of urban stormwater runoff. Adverse impacts can include flooding, pollution, landslides and erosion.	The new stormwater, grading and drainage Control Codes take effect on Nov. 30.
Protect Yourself and Your Property from Landslides Free Landslide Awareness Meetings - Nov. 7 & 21 Do you live on a potential or known landslide area? Do you want to learn how to protect yourself and your property from a landslide? Then attend one of two free landslide awareness meetings, sponsored by the City of Seattle. An annual series, the meetings will provide presentations and individual consultation on best practices for managing landslide-prone properties and will be held on Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Northgate Community Center, Multipurpose Room and on Saturday, Dec. 6 at South Seattle Community College, Judge Warren and Nobie Chan Education Center. Presentations will include a discussion of the causes of landslides and proper drainage and vegetation for sloping sites. These will be followed by a question and answer session and time for one-on-one discussions. Both meetings will have the same format and information. Please RSVP by contacting Tyson Lin, DPD Community Relations at (206) 684-8443. Find out more information about the free landslide awareness meetings.	The landslide awareness meetings are intended to help you protect yourself and your property.
Get Expedited Permits with Green Q Program Starting September 30, 2009 DPD applicants who are applying for new residential building permits under Seattle’s Residential Code (SRC) will have the option of entering DPD’s Green Q for expedited permit processing. This queue has been designed to be faster, more predictable, to provide assistance, and to be sustainable in the long term.The Green Q will support Seattle’s leadership role in climate change initiatives and further City Green Building’s efforts to make sustainable design standard practice. The Green Q is part of the multi-tiered strategy described in Seattle’s Green Building Capital Initiative to encourage energy efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. For more information about Green Q, please visit DPD’s Applicant Services Center or contact Jess Harris, Green Permitting Program Lead at (206) 684-7744.	For more information about Green Q, please visit: www.seattle.gov/DPD/GreenQ
2009 Seattle Codes Update Public review drafts of the 2009 editions of the Seattle Building Code, Seattle Existing Building, Seattle Mechanical Code and Seattle Fuel Gas Code will be available in mid-October or early November. The drafts will be distributed as pdf files. If you would like a copy, contact Maureen Traxler at (206) 233-3892, and be sure to specify which of the draft codes you would like to receive. The drafts will be complete except for Building Code Chapters 9, 29 and 30. Those chapters will be distributed as soon as they are complete.	If you would like a copy of the review drafts, please contact Maureen Traxler at (206) 233-3892, and be sure to specify which draft codes you would like to receive.
Electronic Plan Submissions Nearing Reality Electronic plan submission and review is getting closer to becoming a reality at DPD. While the concept has been discussed for a number of years, exploration began in earnest in 2008. Over the past year, DPD has visited and talked to other cities that have implemented EPlan, researched the latest software, surveyed customers and taken a close look at how DPD currently handles plans through a process improvement effort. In 2009, DPD executives and managers approved a formal project to pilot EPlan with selected applicants and DPD staff. Since then, the team has been gathering requirements for the system from both DPD staff and our applicants. DPD will soon begin recruiting participants for the pilot, so stay tuned to see how you can get involved. Pilot participants will have the opportunity to participate in the design of the system and test it at a very early stage. If all goes as planned, DPD should be accepting its first electronic plan by spring 2010.	EPlans will significantly reduce paper consumption. In 2008, DPD accepted over 5,500 applications for construction permits alone. Converting those plans to electronic files would save approximately 495,000 sheets of paper annually.
DPD Improves Website with Blog, Flash Feature and Live Links DPD recently updated it’s website to increase functionality for customers. DPD’s new blog, BuildingConnections, replaces the previous news sections. It is part of the new CityLink Seattle blog hub, where you can access blogs from most City departments. BuildingConnections is RSS compatible, so you can have your DPD news sent directly to you as soon as it’s posted. DPD has converted its static featured item on the home page to a four-item flash feature. Each week DPD will post the most relevant planning projects, upcoming events, and useful online tools to help keep you connected to DPD's ongoing work. Visitors to DPD's website will also notice that DPD created live links in the Planning, Permits and Compliance boxes to further provide easy access to our hottest issues.	To see the latest blog, featured items or live links, please visit DPD's website.
Publication Update - Director's Rule 6-2009 and DR 22-2000 Final Director's Rule: DR 6-2009, Clarifying Landscape Standards Including the Green Factor Requirement, has been adopted to update DPD’s implementation of landscape requirements. It provides detailed information relating to plant material, landscaping in the right-of-way, and Green Factor features such as green roofs, permeable paving, and bioretention. Rescinded Director's Rule: DR 22-2000, Submittal Requirements for Open-Web Steel Joist Framing Products, was rescinded on September 18, 2009. There is no replacement rule as the rule is no longer needed.	For more information about publications, please visit DPD's Resource Center.