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Arlington is considering a new online system that would digitize the county’s permitting system.
The new system aims to move the permit office’s application process into a digital database while phasing out paper applications. Staff is expected to start testing the system 鈥� now dubbed 鈥�,鈥� after formerly being known as 鈥淥ne-Stop Arlington 鈥� next month.
The project is being , with different types of permits going digital-only at two different times. Phase I is expected to launch at some point following the testing.
鈥淐ustomers will be able to apply either 24/7 from a computer or mobile device, or will still have the option to come into the office during regular business hours to use a kiosk with staff assistance,鈥� said Deborah Albert, the project鈥檚 program manager. 鈥淐ustomers will still have to visit the office in person for Phase II permits, which are anticipated to go online in 2020.鈥�
There are 33 permit types included in this summer鈥檚 Phase I testing, including聽right-of-way use permits,聽site-plan applications and聽civil engineering plans.
Arlington Board Chair Christian Dorsey said聽during the annual this week that the new system聽would be 鈥渁 welcome relief for many of our community鈥檚 businesses.鈥�
He added that 鈥渋t鈥檚 taken longer to get to this point鈥� because each type of permit application has a different process and聽has to be manually coded into the digital system.
鈥淲e know that we have more to do to make our county government as efficient and user-friendly as possible for everyone 鈥� businesses and residents,鈥� he said.
Many businesses have cited the county鈥檚 lengthy permitting process as a reason for over the years.
Arlington requires business owners to seek separate permits for zoning, building and business licensing, and to take other steps before they can open their doors. Most applications have to be filed in person at the county鈥檚 permit office in Courthouse. It鈥檚 a time-consuming process some business leaders .
Restaurateur聽Mike Cordero told ARLnow in a that opening Don Taco in Alexandria showed him just how fast that city鈥檚 permit process was compared to Arlington鈥檚.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a major issue that we have to wait so long to get a permit when other counties and other jurisdictions are giving it to them right away,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how they鈥檙e going to take care of Amazon.鈥�
Meanwhile, some 聽are increasing next month with the start of the 聽on July 1. According to聽Albert, the increases include:
- A 2.5% inflationary increase to the Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development鈥檚 Development Fund fees, including the Department of Environmental Services development-related fees.
- A 5% increase in the Automation Enhancement Surcharge for building, electrical, plumbing, gas, elevator and fire protection systems permits, and for zoning permits
- New fees for Special General Land Use Plan studies and for Conceptual Site Plan applications.
