The city of Fort Worth is working to expedite its platting process.
In response to the city council’s request, an informal report at Tuesday’s work session provided ways to expedite the platting process.
The platting process includes three primary steps performed by the city:
*Review of engineering studies where required: water/sewer, storm water, and traffic.
*Review of plats, with accepted engineering studies where required.
*Review of infrastructure plans and execution of community facility agreements (CFAs)
where required.
City staff has previously worked with the Development Advisory Committee (DAC) and consulting engineers to expedite steps 1 and 3. Step 1 now takes five to 10 business days for first review, depending on the study type, with Transportation and Public Works contracting with engineering firms to help review storm water and traffic studies. Step 3 now takes 60 days, shortened from 140 days.
City staff is proposing to review step 2, including exploring whether the new building permit X-Team model could be an option for plat review within city limits. Step 2 takes 21 to 30 days for first review, and involves the utility companies in addition to city staff from multiple departments.
The X-Team model would have all reviewers on hand with the applicant and their engineers for review and revisions in one day. Staff will first meet with the utility companies to explore whether company personnel could be assigned to review plats with city staff and applicants in a one-day session, then staff will determine what city resources would be required and the corresponding per hour fee for city staff and utility company personnel.
The building permit X-Team fee is $1,000 per hour.
Staff will also initiate a Lean Business Process Improvement plan for step 2 in January 2019. They will then provide an interim update on platting process improvements to the council in early 2019.
“We’ve had a lot of success at putting new revenue on our books, and it’s because we can get those permits approved, get those buildings built, and get that revenue coming in,” District 4 Councilman Carey Moon said.