In this issue:
- Latest on BuildSA
- Contractor Connect Program
- Legislative Session News
- PCTAC Update
- Safety Measures Continue at One Stop
- CityPass Feedback - April 10
- Performance Measures
- Online Resources
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Training remains a focus for the BuildSA Team as we continue working with customers and staff. Thank you all for the feedback we are receiving for improvement opportunities of the system and for re-enforcing the positive aspects of conducting business online. Training is on-going, and available as group or one-on-one sessions; for training requests, please email us.
Our goal is to make doing business with Development Services easy and efficient—we want to ensure we do everything possible to achieve this goal. Many of the enhancements we’ve made to BuildSA are a result of the feedback received. We continue to work to resolve critical issues and evaluate and incorporate improvements. The following additions were requested by our customers and released in March:
- The property/permit address is now present in several email notifications. Emails such as the application received email, the fees assessed email and inspection schedule and inspection status emails now include the property address in the body of the email.
- Delegates now have permission to submit an amendment (Add/Remove Contact and Withdrawal/Refund) record in the Accela Citizen Access portal (ACA).
- On a Commercial Building Permit, the ACA Shopping Cart will now list the Re-Inspection Fees under the appropriate trade to allow fees to be paid separately by the trade/individual responsible for that trade.
Currently, Hansen remains available for closeout of new residential building permits issued prior to Nov. 30, 2020. Through Mar. 29, 2021, there are 1,636 residential building permits, 1,153 commercial building permits, and 10,524 trade and miscellaneous permits in Hansen, with a reduction of 2,163 permits. More information will be shared about the Hansen transition in an upcoming newsletter.
For the latest on BuildSA and training resources, please visit our website.
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Contractor Connect Program |
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Contractor Training
Homebuilder and Home Improvement, Mechanical, Residential and Plumbing contractors are encouraged to register for the upcoming Contractor Connect classes. Each session runs from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Please register in advance by selecting and completing the training link below:
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Contractor Search Tool
For residents, Contractor Connect also provides an enhanced search tool that generates a list of registered contractors to choose from.
The list is compiled based on the type of work (home improvement, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, etc.) needed for the project, along with the category-level of Registered, Registered Plus, or Premier.
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March 12, 2021 was the deadline for bills to be filed for the 87th Texas Legislative session. Development Services is tracking 75 development-related bills from the thousands of bills filed. Next steps include assigning many of these bills to committees and subcommittees for consideration and debate. As such, DSD will continue to monitor the bills we are tracking and will provide updates as they progress through the session.
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The deadline for Planning Commission Technical Advisory Committee (PCTAC) vacancies was extended one week following the City’s closure resulting from the winter storm. Most current members whose term is expiring reapplied, as well as many others. In total, the department received 23 applications.
The Planning Commission (PC), Board of Adjustment, Parks and Recreation Board, and Zoning Commission appointed all Commissioners to the PCTAC during their March hearings. The PC has formed their nominating committee to review applications. Recommendations from the nominating committee will be forwarded to the PC for consideration and approval on April 14, 2021.
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Safety Measures Continue at One Stop |
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While all plans and permit applications are to be submitted electronically online with BuildSA, we understand there may be a need to visit the Cliff Morton Development and Business Services Center (DBSC). For customers who need to visit us, before coming down, please join the line using CityPass and select the service you need to visit. You will get a notification alerting you to your place in line.
The One Stop will continue to follow our existing COVID-19 health and safety protocols for entry into the building including:
- limiting the number of customers inside the lobby to 30
- required face masks
- temperature and symptom checks
- social distancing
In line with our safety measures, entrances have sanitation stations set up with hand sanitizer, wipes and disposable masks (for customers who need a mask). Additionally, all counters have clear acrylic barriers, and to encourage social distancing, customer seating has been spaced accordingly.
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We ask if you or anyone in your household is experiencing COVID symptoms, to please stay home.
Virtual boards and commissions meetings will continue as-is until further notice.
Like you, we will continue to monitor the latest COVID-19 news and do our part to keep our customers, staff and visitors safe. For more information about the department's safety measures, online, or lobby services, please visit our website.
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We Want to Hear From You! |
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Have you visited the One Stop since Feb. 1, 2021, and used CityPass, powered by QLess? If so, we want to hear from you. Please complete the short survey by April 10, 2021 and let us know how the new queuing system worked for you.
CityPass will be expanding to other city departments later this year. Your feedback is invaluable; thank you for your support.
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Join the line with CityPass
For those who need to visit DSD, please join the line before coming to the building. To get in line, customers can either:
(2) download the QLess App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store (app image to the right), or
(3) text the word “csaonestop” to (210) 794-6955
When ready, enter your name, cell phone number, and choose the queue (service) you need. Now, you can move freely while getting SMS text notifications alerting you to when it is your turn. Estimated wait times are available on the City and DSD website. Visit the CityPass website for more information.
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Performance Measures
The complete Performance Measures report is available online.
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Additional Info Available to You |
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This rule interpretation determination (RID) is a customer service and staff clarification on Section 35-502(b)(2) - Trip Analysis, Section 35-502(f)(2) – Mitigation Improvements and Roughly Proportionate Determination, and Section 35-B122 “Appendix B” – TIA, and is effective as of March 15, 2021.
For a complete list of additional online resources, visit the following sites:
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**Information Bulletins located in Documents Online are numbered by section. The assigned numbers are generally categorized as outlined below:
- 100s - Plan Review
- 200s - Permits and Inspections
- 300s - BuildSA
- 500s - Land Development
- 800s - Code Enforcement
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