A monthly e-Newsletter from the Division of Planning and Development –May 2021 |
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A Message from John Zeanah, Director |
The Division of Planning and Development (DPD) has added a new page to its website that shows performance metrics (turn-around time) for the following services: inspections, permit issuance (electrical, mechanical, plumbing), plan review (building permits), and zoning letters. We’ll keep these updated each month – for better or worse – to let our regulated community know what to expect when doing business with DPD.
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Develop 901 Citizen Portal (ACA)
Shows Increase in Customer Usage
Since October 2020 Launch
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Customers have increasingly shifted their reliance on paper permit applications to the online digital offering since the Division launched the Develop 901 Citizen Portal last fall (use shown in pink above). Overall, the Division is showing 65.5% of all permit applications submitted online versus paper in March 2021, up from 26.3% at product launch last October. The Division has seen the most impressive adoption of the Citizen Portal with building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permit applications up to over 80% submitted online.
The feature article below highlights some of the ways the Division is helping to migrate more customers online by offering video tutorials that help to educate customers on how to use the services of Develop901.com.
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The emphasis on digital experiences proved essential in 2020, when customers moved the majority of their shopping and professional work online due to the pandemic. The Division has been working over the past several months to provide resources and to expand access to help more citizens get acquainted with using the new Develop 901 Citizen Portal for online permitting. The Division has made available on the Develop 901.com website training resources including video tutorials and FAQ's to help educate customers on how to use the online portal. The graphic above features the YouTube videos that are available to watch anytime. Customers can access videos that provide steps on "How to Register for an Account," "Apply for Permit and Pay Fees," "Schedule an Inspection," and more.
The Land Use and Development Services Department (LUDS) has also produced answers to frequently asked questions. A new graphic is available on the department's section of the Develop 901 website. The illustration is aimed to help better manage customers expectations with regard to the zoning entitlement review process.
These are just a few examples of the ways DPD is here to help.
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Planning and Implementation |
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Many thanks to all of you who have already shared your ideas and vision for the Memphis Innovation Corridor Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Plan. The Division appreciates your input so far and hope that you continue to stay engaged throughout the planning process.
Since launching this project last month, the Division has been hard at work analyzing data and using your initial feedback to form guiding principles for the TOD Plan.
Join us on Tuesday, May 11 at 5:30 p.m. to get a first look at some of the land use and design concepts that have emerged from the Memphis Innovation Corridor TOD planning process.
At this meeting, an update will be shared on the progress made thus far to include: ways in which the TOD plan will help build connections – between people and places within and the surrounding neighborhoods, and mConnect bus rapid transit stations along the Innovation Corridor.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts about these preliminary concepts.
For more information,
Phone: 901.636.6601,
Email: info@memphis3point0.com
Register in advance for this meeting:
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Implementation Activities to Begin Soon for
$4.1M Federal Lead Based Paint
Hazard Reduction Grant
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The Shelby County Commission approved on April 26th funding relative to the implementation of direct lead hazard reduction activities. The approval is tied to the $4.14 Million Federal Grant Award the Division's Department of Housing received in the fall of 2020. The funding will support the County's continued effort to meet the residential lead based paint regulations (Title X, P.L. 102550) introduced in 1992 by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as amended in 2005. The City of Memphis has committed to provide up to $600,000 in local match funds to complete the activities necessary to implement the grant.
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Plans are Shaping Up to Implement
Shelby County's Green Fleet Pilot Program
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The Division's Sustainability and Resilience department and the Shelby County Roads and Bridges department continue to work together to implement an electric vehicle (EV) fleet pilot project. With financial support from the United States Department of Energy, this project will fund the purchase of 5 new electric vehicles and vehicle charging infrastructure. The project team recently finalized the types of vehicles that will be purchased – 4 new light-duty pick-up trucks with plug-in hybrid electric technology and 1 medium-duty dump truck with battery electric technology. The team received approval from the Shelby County Commission to officially accept the grant award. Over the next several months, the project team will complete research on the types of EV charging stations that will best meet the needs of these 5 vehicles as well as set the stage for future expansion of EVs in the County fleet. The Division will share more project updates and additional efforts to green our local fleets over the coming months!
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The Division would like to give thanks to our three interns for their work over the past year – Andrea Jimenez, Kevin Murphy, and Bradley Thomas.
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Welcome to Andrew Schmitz and Giahanna Bridges to Comprehensive Planning, Bruce Franklin to Signs and Zoning and Enforcement, Ethan Greene to Regional Transportation Planning, and Patricia Ross to Construction Enforcement - Operations.
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Congratulations to Bo Cates for his promotion to Chief Electrical Inspector of Construction Enforcement.
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The Governor’s executive order allowing online public meetings expired on April 28, 2021. Therefore, the Division will return to holding in-person Land Use Control Board (LUCB), Board of Adjustment (BOA), and Memphis Landmarks Commission (MLC) public meetings in May. However, at this time, only staff and members of the Boards and Commission will be brought in-person at first, while applicants and members of the public will continue to participate virtually. Meetings will still be streamed live on the Division's YouTube channel.
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