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Streamlining Development Regulation: Bonita Springs, Cape Coral & Fort Myers. Fort Myers City Hall March 15, 2013. Streamlining Development Regulations. Streamlining Goals. Offer the most competitive services in the region Reduce the regulatory review times
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Streamlining Development Regulation:Bonita Springs, Cape Coral & Fort Myers Fort Myers City Hall March 15, 2013
Streamlining Goals Offer the most competitive services in the region Reduce the regulatory review times Simplify the rules and processes to improve submittals Establish consistency to remove uncertainty
Streamlining Efforts Examined our processes and procedures Developed work flowcharts of the 12 most frequently used processes Conducted analysis Eliminated many redundant or unnecessary steps Found solutions and improved the system
Streamlining Benefits • Cost savings and project speed may determine if a project moves forward • A consistent and efficient development process allows developers to know there will be no surprises • There can be intense competition between various locations; a streamlined development process gives us a competitive edge
Both this volume of residential permits, and the City’s desire to be a destination for commercial development, have led the City to develop permit streamlining procedures.
Commercial Land Distribution Corridor Studies identified distribution of various types of commercial centers;
Current Streamlining Actions Provide checklists of submission requirements; Review applications for completeness prior to accepting the applications; Provide pre-application “advisory meeting” to guide applicants; Eliminated the notary requirement for most pages of an application; Implemented an automated system of performance tracking;
Current Streamlining Actions • Eight days to respond to permit (1st review), review times lessen after 1st review; • Procedures in-place to require meeting with applicant if re-submittal does not meet standards; and • Procedures in-place to ensure applicant/City communication to reduce turnover time between reviews.
Future Streamlining • Efforts are being made to revise certain City procedures that currently require a public hearing to be reviewed administratively (certain variances, Planned Development Projects). • City has recently audited its procedures with support from Zucker Planning Systems. Results are expected by March 2013.
City of Bonita SpringsStreamlining Development Regulations and Economic Development Opportunities Urban Land Institute Southwest Florida Presentation March 15, 2013
Streamlining Development Initiatives • Created a Task Force in March 2012 to forge partnerships with: • Bonita Springs Fire and Rescue District • Bonita Springs Utilities • Southwest Florida Water Management District • Instituted “One-Stop” permitting process with Community Partners • Partnership with Bonita Springs/Estero EDC • City designated Business Advocate • Instated the Philosophy of the 3- P’s *Painless *Predictable *Profitable
Development Incentives • Expedited Permitting • Complimentary pre-application meetings and architectural reviews with community partners at the table • LDC Regulatory Incentives • Shared and reduced parking by Administrative Approval (saving 6 months of processing) • Lowered parking lot ratio’s for selected uses thereby reducing impervious surface
Recently Approved Incentives Bonita Springs Priority Permitting Process: Targeted Businesses receive “front of the line” service for permit processing. Bonita Springs Utilities Aid in New Construction (ANC) Fee Credits for Economic Development: The City in partnership with Bonita Springs Utilities provides an Aid in New Construction (ANC) fee credits program. Projects receive a reduction in their one time connection costs for plant capacity for utilities.
Development Opportunities • Naples/Fort Myers Greyhound Track: Bonita Beach Road and Old 41 Road (slots, gaming and 100 acres of undeveloped land) • Density Reduction Groundwater Recharge Area (DRGR) • Shopping Center renovations • Center of Bonita: US 41 and Bonita Beach Road- new Publix and reconfiguration of internal circulation • Prado Shopping Center: Bernwood Parkway and US 41- Façade renovation