The City Planning and Development Department has a bold new vision focused on enhancing customer service, speeding up application and permit reviews, reducing costs, and steps in the approval process.

Under the leadership of newly appointed Director Mario Vasquez, the department is undergoing significant structural changes aimed at better serving the people of Kansas City and facilitating the City's continued growth.

Key improvements being implemented include:

• Expanded Project Services: There will be a more focused emphasis on helping customers by adding a dedicated team of development managers and concierges that can assist projects at every step of the development process, assisting with economic feasibility and incentives, entitlements, building plan reviews, permitting, inspections, and certificates of occupancy.
   
• Reduced Plan Review Timelines: The department is slashing the timeline for reviews for minor revisions, minor resubmissions, and minor changes from 14 days to just 3.
   
• In-Person, Same-Day Plan Reviews: An over-the-counter review team will be restored, available by appointment, to offer same-day permit and application reviews and approvals, bringing back face-to-face service.
   
• Consistency in Review: Provided schedules allow, we will strive to keep a single reviewer or inspector for the entire project, promoting consistency and clear communication.
   
• Increased Staff for Permits Division: Additional permit review staff will be hired to accelerate the timeline for issuing permits.
   
• Continued Use of Third-Party Inspectors: We will emphasize the availability of third-party inspectors, which will help us cut down on inspection delays and alleviate bottlenecks, especially during peak periods.
   
• Reorganization of Land Development Services: Land development services have shifted to the Water Services and Public Works Departments to better align core departmental functions. City Planning and Development will continue to serve the lead role on projects and ensure that all departments work collaboratively to serve our customers.
   
• Comprehensive Process Review: An expert consultant will be hired to review all steps in the development process to minimize unnecessary steps, eliminate redundancies, and leverage technology to make processes smoother and more efficient.
   
• Exploring AI in Planning: The department is exploring the use of artificial intelligence to help applicants develop better plans and applications, ensuring higher-quality submissions from the outset.
   
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Customer experience feedback will be pivotal in shaping future improvements. The department is committed to continuously refining its processes based on real-time insights.
   
• Project Management Office: The department will house a project management office to provide management of large-scale and City-initiated projects.
   
• Focus on Solutions: We will encourage a solutions-oriented mindset, empowering the team to find innovative ways to say "yes" to development while maintaining the City's high development standards.