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HousingEconomic DevelopmentDigital Services
Fast-Lane Permitting & Office-to-Residential
Published 9/23/2025
Updated 9/23/2025
Summary
Permits in weeks, not months for code-compliant housing and storefront retrofits. We will also convert viable offices to rental homes with templated designs and concurrent reviews.
Why Now
- Time kills projects and keeps rents high.
- Underused offices can become well-located housing with the right templates.
Goals
- Cut median permit time to ≤ 28 days for qualifying projects.
- Approve X office-to-residential conversions in 12 months.
Actions & Implementation
Step 1
Eligibility: PBR near transit, storefront retrofits, and O→R conversions meeting code.
Step 2
Templates: pre-approved design patterns (MEP, egress, accessibility).
Step 3
Concurrent reviews: building, fire, planning run in parallel; digital submissions only.
Step 4
SLA: publish times; refunds/expedite credits if we miss.
Timeline
0–90 days
3 months
Templates published; portal live.
3–12 months
9 months
Median times at target; first conversions underway.
Key Performance Indicators
- Median permit days (by stream)
- Approvals per month
- Conversion units added
Accountability
- Weekly delivery review; external peer panel for complex conversions.
Risks & Mitigations
Risk: Code conflicts
Mitigation: Early fire/building co-design; phased occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will quality suffer?
No:standards unchanged; we remove idle time, not inspections.