The City of Portland is ushering in a new era for its Permitting & Development bureau with the appointment of Eric Kutch as its new director. Deputy City Administrator for Community and Economic Development Donnie Oliveira made the announcement, emphasizing Kutch's proven ability to lead large, complex organizations through comprehensive process reforms and organizational changes. As reported by Portland.gov, Kutch will take on the director role in early January, focusing on implementing a more customer-centered approach to permits and development in Portland.
Oliveira highlighted Kutch's significant achievements during his time as deputy assistant director and deputy building official in the City of Houston. There, Kutch managed to slash permit timelines by 75%, reduced review delays across disciplines, and brought back same-day services for certain projects. Moreover, he was responsible for implementing a real-time production tracking system, thereby improving transparency and operations in Houston. "His experience managing transformation at scale is exactly what we need," Oliveira said, as the City of Portland aims to further build a permitting organization designed for clarity, consistency, and long-term success.
Interim Director David Kuhnhausen, who has provided steady leadership over the past two years, will remain a part of the PP&D's top team. This decision comes as recognition of his instrumental role in maintaining PP&D services amidst formational changes. According to Oliveira, Kuhnhausen's technical expertise and commitment to staff have been vital during this transformative period and his continued presence will lend valuable experience to the newly unified system under Kutch's direction.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson also weighed in on the new appointment, stating that Kutch brings the required expertise to build on Portland's ongoing efforts to modernize its permitting system. In a statement obtained by Portland.gov, Wilson shared his expectations that Kutch's leadership will lead to "faster, more reliable services for Portlanders," aligning with the city's plans for office-to-residential conversions and the introduction of 2,500 new housing units by 2030.
Praising the appointment, Portland City Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney voiced her enthusiasm for Kutch's arrival, expecting to see continuation and furtherance of the critical work in reforming Portland's permitting system. "I look forward to working with Eric as we continue the critical work of reforming a permitting system that proves we can uphold our community values while also delivering a high-quality, easy-to-navigate, timely system," Pirtle-Guiney told Portland.gov. She also extended gratitude towards Kuhnhausen's stewardship during the interim period.
Kutch's commitment to blending his extensive leadership background with a focus on equity and customer service will serve as the foundation for his role in Portland. His past initiatives, such as implementing multilingual service pathways and standardizing review practices, are meant to ensure that all applicants receive consistent, reliable, and timely information. "I am honored to serve as the director of Portland Permitting & Development and continue building a permitting experience that is more predictable, transparent, and truly customer-centered," Kutch stated as per Portland.gov, signaling his readiness to collaborate with City leadership, partners, and PP&D staff to advance operations while maintaining high standards of building safety and service.
Kutch joins two other recently announced key leaders at the City of Portland.
