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> Business to Business > Business REGS > Maneuvering the Municipal Maze
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Maneuvering the Municipal Maze
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Sue Denette and Diane Ollari are the founders of Denette-Ollari Municipal Solutions, 413-583-7894, domunicipalsolutions.com
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Inside the permit process
By Sue Denette and Diane Ollari
You're going to build your new home, start a business, or begin your first residential subdivision. You're excited and ready, until your freshman visit to town or city hall introduces you to the complexity of the permit-getting process.
You can maneuver the municipal maze, but it takes time, patience, and lots of preliminary work even before applying for a permit.
In most communities, permits are needed to open a new business, build a residence or structure, and divide property for multiple residences just to name a few. But obtaining a permit can be a daunting task. Often, applicants have contracted for the work to be done, unaware of the municipal steps to be completed before a project starts. They have the mistaken notion that they can walk into town hall and walk back out with a permit in hand.
The Permit Process
Some permits can be obtained within a week or so, others (those requiring a public hearing) can take months. Some require a public hearing with the hearing date published as a legal notice once - sometimes twice - within a specified time before the hearing.
For example, to obtain a Special Permit from the Special Permit Granting Authority, the notice must be published two consecutive weeks at least 14 days before the hearing. Which means the hearing will be three weeks after the application is submitted, depending on where the legal notice is published. If the hearing goes well, the board votes; if they want more information, the hearing is continued to a later date.
Voila! The board votes favorably, and a notification of their decision is mailed to abutters and surrounding communities to notify them of a 20-day appeal. If there is no appeal, the board will issue the permit. If the process seems daunting, there is an option.
Having a Pathfinder Helps
Having a knowledgeable person to guide an applicant through the process can save time and frustration.
Obtaining permits means paperwork completed, plans drawn, public hearings scheduled and reviews by numerous town departments. It also requires follow-up with all involved departments until the project is complete. While some segments of a project may require the services of an engineer, environmentalist, surveyor, sanitarian or other professional, paying their hourly rates to do preliminary research or attend meetings is not cost-effective. It is equally less effective for those professionals to spend their time doing the groundwork.
So if you're up to the task, forge ahead. If not, remember that doing what you do best and having someone else do the rest makes good business sense. In either case, getting it right the first time is sure to save you time, money, and frustration.
Cost and Time Effective
There is a viable option. Hire a guide to run the permit through the process for you.
Trained consultants can ensure that applications are submitted properly, thus saving time and avoiding unnecessary delays.
Trained consultants can coordinate any needed legal, engineering or environmental services. This can also help the applicant avoid contracting and paying for duplicate services.
Bottom line: Permit applicants can save money by hiring pros to do the paperwork and appear before the boards on their behalf. They know how to manipulate the maze.
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