El Paso County Citizens College

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• El Paso County Citizens College
• September 5, 2007
• El Paso County Development Services

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• Pikes Peak Regional Development Center
• EPC Development Services Regional Building
• City Development Review Colorado Springs
  Utilities

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What Do We Do?

• Review Development Applications for Conformance
  with the Various Development Rules and
  Regulations
• Project Types A - D
• Review Development Trends
• Using GIS technology to see trends
• Steps EPC is Taking to Plan for Future Growth
• Small Area Master Plan Updates
• Land Development Code Update
• Streamlined Development Review Process

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How Do We Do It?

• Traditional Planning Organization vs. El Paso
  County Development Services Organization
• Traditional Planning Organization
• Planner functions as project manager
• Process can drag on
• No single point of contact
• Development review process is taxpayer funded
• EPC Development Services
• Multi-Disciplinary Team concept
• Project Manager manages the project the process
• Front end loaded process
• Development review process is user funded for
  full cost recovery no taxpayer dollars involved
  in development review process

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Why Do it Differently?

• Communication
• Process is user friendly and designed for the
  public
• Process and required approvals are communicated
  early in the process
• Regulations and codes are communicated clearly
  and consistently
• Predictability
• Process is predictable, consistent, timely
• Performance Standards to assess results and
  adapt to change
• Customer Service
• Cooperative relationship between staff and
  customers
• Single point of contact concept
• Ability to get to a quick yes or quick no on
  issues and applications
• Accountability
• A process exists to resolve conflicts
• Clear lines of accountability within EPC for the
  process and decisions
• Customers and staff responsible for their roles
  in the process

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Who Does This Planning?

• 34 FTEs in 4 Divisions
• Customer Service Division
• Project Management Group
• Administrative Group
• Planning Review Division
• Planners
• Engineering Review Division
• Engineers
• Long Range Planning Division
• Planners

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Volunteer Opportunities

• Citizen Boards appointed by the Board of
  County Commissioners to advise on planning and
  development matters
• County Planning Commission (9
  Members)
• Advisory to the Board of County Commissioners on
  most land use requests
• County Board of Adjustment
  (5 Members)
• Consider physical variances for properties
• Appeal is to District Court
• Development Fund Advisory Board (9
  Members)
• Advise the BOCC, Planning Commission and
  Development Services Department on matters
  regarding the Land Development Review Fee Fund

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How Planners Identify and Analyze Development
Trends

• GIS Demo