Maricopa kicks off one-stop shop plan review and permitting process

Maricopa Mayor Anthony Smith and the city’s development services staff have announced the beginning of implementation of Maricopa’s One-Stop Shop plan review and permitting process.

The One-Stop Shop will support a much simplified process that eliminates the need for developers and business owners to deal with multiple city agencies.

“Our new one-stop counter service will demonstrate our commitment to business made simple,” said Maricopa Mayor Anthony Smith. “This new service will highly enhance customer service and facilitate greater cooperation with Maricopa’s residents, businesses and developers.”

Seven different city divisions require plan reviews before issuing building permits: Building Services, Business Licensing, Planning and Zoning, Fire, Engineering, Public Works and Transportation. With the implementation of the One-Stop Shop, permit applications will be accepted at one office, with an expeditor helping to streamline procedures through the use of one centralized database that can be shared across a number of departments.

“If we create a predictable development review environment with timely, efficient processing and high quality standards, we will get more and better development projects throughout the city,” said Development Services Expeditor Brad Hinton.

When fully implemented, the One-Stop Shop will ensure a collaborative approach among all of the city’s development review entities. The One-Stop Shop system will operate as a partnership between the development community, neighborhood groups and the city, with a goal to facilitate sustainable, walk able and transit-oriented patterns of development that serve the needs and interests of all Maricopa residents.

The One-Stop Shop will be based on the fundamental principles of predictability, accountability, efficiency, flexibility and transparency.

“Bringing multiple departments under a common database, providing citizen access to government services and empowering inspectors with tools to access information in the field will significantly impact the city’s ability to improve permit and licensing response time,” said Bill Griffith, Chief Building Official in the city’s Development Services Department. “Expediting processes for building professionals will help us increase efficiency and measurably enhance the level of service we provide to our residents and businesses.”

“This program was the next step in the department’s reorganization,” stated Development Services Director Brent Billingsley. “Customer service is a top priority for the city, and the One-Stop Shop will provide a simplified process that developers, business owners and residents need to complete projects in the City of Maricopa.”

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