City of Knoxville exceeds development benchmarks
Through the effective use of money, time, and people. Knoxville had made significant improvements in the review and permitting process.
The Knoxville Chamber highlighted significant improvements in the turnaround time for the plans review of development permits in the City of Knoxville. These changes demonstrate the positive impact of recent investments in staffing and software systems. Here are the key impacts, according to the press release:
Reduced plan review time
- Residential Permits – Average review time is now 6 days, exceeding the 7-day goal.
- Commercial Permits (under $500,000) – Average review time is now 10 days, exceeding the 14-day goal.
- Commercial Permits ($500,000 – $20 million) – Average review time is now 13 days, exceeding the 21-day goal.
- Commercial Permits (over $20 million) – Average review time is now 10 days, exceeding the 30-day goal.
Increased efficiency leads to positive economic impacts
- The number of permits requested rose by 16 percent from April to May, indicating a growing demand and confidence in the system.
- Faster permit approvals can stimulate economic activity by allowing construction projects to commence sooner.
- The improvements could in turn attract more developers and investors to the city.
Effective use of money and people
- The budget increase approved in December 2023 resulted in the hiring of nine new staff members, which helped speed up the review times.
- Investments in IT and software systems are showing tangible results.
- The city’s customer service line, 311, handles development services calls, averaging 63 calls per day, improving the support for permit applicants.
The City of Knoxville’s strategic investments in staff and technology are yielding positive outcomes in permit processing efficiency and customer service, creating a more dynamic and responsive development environment.
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