PORT ORCHARD — In an effort to iron out wrinkles that have arisen in Kitsap County’s Department of Community Development, the new director, Larry Keeton, is closing shop for a while.
Not permanently, but he’s decided to sequester the DCD planners from April 1 to June 1 to deal with a backlog of 168 permits stewing in department files.
“Basically, what’s happening is we’ve got 168 projects that are over 90 days old,” Keeton said. “These projects are languishing here for a variety of reasons, and one thing we needed was more time. So this is a way to get it.”
Kingston Stakeholder and resident Dave Wetter said he was pleased to hear the county is finally tackling some of the permits building up in its system. Wetter submitted an application for six townhouses on Ohio Street in Kingston several months ago, and hasn’t received any word on their progress.
“I’m encouraged that they are dedicating focus and time to take care of the backlog,” he said.
The two-month period should effectively take care of at least 75 percent of the permits, and the rest needing more work will be a part of the department’s new streamlined program, Keeton said. Other changes to the department will include no longer allowing walk-ins at the DCD, appointments will be needed. Also, a new hotline modeled after the Kitsap County Public Works Open Line will be used for incoming calls. An electronic tracking system will make its appearance later in the year, allowing residents to keep an eye on their permit’s progress.
“(The Kingston Stakeholders) as a group felt it was a good idea to break bread with the new Department of Community Development head, Larry Keeton,” said Kingston Stakeholder Sonny Woodward. “He was quite forward with the number of backlogged permits. He seems very committed to getting that cleared up. He’s coming in particularly to move things forward so it’s easier for community developers.”
Keeton said he and the planners are using three different methods to work through the permits. The first reviews the plan and returns it to the applicant requesting comments or further paperwork to be filled out. The second — for projects that have already been through this process — will mean either the permit will be issued or the project will be killed. The third will look at whether the plan died while in backlog.
“Planners keep saying they get telephone calls about the status of the project, and they just don’t have time to get back to everyone,” Keeton said. “People will walk in and demand to see a planner. With the new program, if you call in, it will be routed to an office assistant who will be able to answer questions or get a planner who can answer them. They can also make appointments to see planners. With this business practice in place, it will give the planners the quiet time to actually review plans and get permits issued in a reasonable amount of time.”
