Baltimore's permit and approval process is due for an overhaul, Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced yesterday. According to a statement on the city's website, the aim is to release a framework, part of the Bmore FAST (Facilitating Approvals and Streamlining Timelines) initiative, that promises to simplify the city’s development processes. Scott's plan is yet another step in a $3 billion investment scheme designed to tackle the city's issue of vacant properties through modernization.
"To maximize this unprecedented opportunity, we must ensure our development processes don't become roadblocks to progress", Mayor Scott explained in a report. The comprehensive review guiding the overhaul seeks to iron out bureaucratic creases, coordinating multiple city agencies. The coming weeks should reveal a full report detailing the actionable recommendations to make the development process more efficient. Deputy Mayor Justin Williams believes this move is tantamount to crafting the conditions for "Baltimore's renaissance".
The proposed changes include creating a “Director of Permitting and Development Services” position for central coordination and establishing a Bmore FAST Advisory Group, which will incorporate perspectives from developers, contractors, architects, and other stakeholders – a response to the demand for a more "efficient and transparent permitting process," said City Council President Zeke Cohen. The City of Baltimore Mayor's Office elaborated that these are part of Scott's vision to end vacants by transforming the city's unused properties into habitable and commercial spaces.
Residents interested in participating in shaping the city's future can join the BMore FAST Advisory Group, with openings advertised on the City's Boards & Commissions webpage.
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