MODEL # 99-11
PARALLEL PLAN REVIEW PROGRAM
FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Slow Plan Review and Permit Processing

Fairfax County’s Department of Environmental Management (DEM)* reviewed and approved site plans before the building plan review process began. After the site plan was approved, a permit was issued to start clearing and grading but the building plans were months away from final approval. As a result, contractors often has to demobilize their crews rather than remain idle waiting for approval.

Parallel Review

The site plan and building plan reviews now occur simultaneously.

DESCRIPTION:

Presently, building plans are reviewed at the same time as the site plan with special attention given to soil evaluation and provisions for fire department access. Soil evaluation reports are part of the site plan review process but careful coordination is required to ensure that conditions set forth in the report are incorporated into the building plan. Fire department access is also important. Before the building plan is finally approved, the site plan and building plan are compared to ensure that the location of the water lines, siamese connection, fire hydrants, and amount of water available at the fire hydrants are consistent on both plans. All of these issues if not carefully coordinated can create safety hazards and cause major delays in the construction process.

The review of plans prior to the permit issuance is the most time consuming function in the code enforcement process. Concurrent reviews reduce the time needed to effectively perform this function, from 3-8 months for a new commercial project.

RESULTS:

The review process for site plans can take anywhere from 2-6 months. Likewise, the review of building plans can take from 2-6 months for the entire review. Reviewing plans simultaneously can save as much as six months for a developer of a project, saving that developer substantial amounts of money.

SAVINGS:

It costs DIS (in real dollars, adjusted for inflation) less to issue a permit, review a plan, and perform an inspection now than in 1988. Establishing this program, in conjunction with other customer service initiatives, has meant that it would cost the County $1.5 million less today to handle the 1988 workload than it did 10 years ago.

EVALUATION BY STREAMLINING COMMITTEES:

• The program serves as a convenience for the user;
• Reduces the time it takes to issue a permit.

• Increases the need for coordination with other departments.

The Streamlining Committees designated this program as a streamlining tool without modifications.

The parallel review program was instituted by administrative action of DEM. There were no implementation costs associated with this process.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE IN CONSIDERING THE USE OF THIS MODEL, PLEASE CONTACT: