By Jackee Coe | The Arizona Republic
Peoria plans to launch a pilot program for design professionals to self-certify their building plans as a way to expedite the city’s permitting process.
The idea is to cut down significantly on both time and money for developers.
Only permits for tenant improvements will be eligible for the pilot program. Those include changes by an owner to the interior of a commercial or industrial property to accommodate a tenant’s needs, such as putting in new walls, floor or ceiling coverings, or redesigning the interior of an existing building.
Design professionals like architects or engineers would become certified in Peoria’s building codes and then could self-certify that their building plans meet the requirements rather than go through the city’s normal plan review process.
Some City Council members said the program can help bring in new businesses, but others expressed concerns over whether public safety could be maintained under the program.
