City Forms New Development Task Force

The City of San Angelo is forming a Development Task Force composed of stakeholders and professionals in the development community in a move to initiate greater dialogue with City staff and improvements to City processes.

Development Services Director Patrick Howard, who proposed the task force, said the group’s work will focus primarily on two key areas: the City’s development review and approval process, and mutually beneficial education for City staff and for developers regarding one another’s realms.

“The overarching goal is an ongoing analysis of our policies, practices and procedures to ensure they are reasonable and responsive to the needs and desires of our customers,” Howard said, “along with the myriad of stakeholders throughout the community. We also want to ensure that what we do and any improvements to how we operate are consistent with the long-term vision articulated in the City’s comprehensive master plan.”

Howard will serve as the task force’s chairman. The group’s membership will include representatives from:

• The Housing Authority of San Angelo            
• Home Builders Association of San Angelo
• Downtown San Angelo, Inc.
• San Angelo Association of REALTORS
• San Angelo Apartment Association
• West Texas Organizing Strategy
• Habitat for Humanity of San Angelo
• Galilee Community Development Corp.
• Lake Nasworthy Homeowners Association
• San Angelo Chamber of Commerce
• Engineering, architecture/design and banking representatives.
• Anyone who is interested in serving in this capacity is encouraged to attend the first meeting on April 16.

The task force will meet from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on the third Wednesday of the month in the east reception room on the mezzanine of City Hall, 72 W. College Ave. The meetings will be open to the public. The group will meet monthly from April through September, and every other month after that.

“We look forward to working more closely with the development community in striking a smart balance between accommodating our customers with efficient, user-friendly processes and ensuring that San Angelo’s future development benefits the whole of the community and citizens’ quality of life,” Howard said.

In recent years, the Development Services and Economic Development departments have led informal, weekly meetings with developers about their impending projects. The Development Review Committee’s mission is to ease the process of obtaining permits and approvals for new developments.

During the meetings, developers share information about proposed projects and City staff outlines applicable codes and regulations, and the required processes. Representatives are available from the City’s Planning, Engineering Services, and Building Permits and Inspections divisions; the Fire Marshal’s Office; and the Water Utilities Department.

Development Review Committee meetings are conducted by appointment on Friday mornings at the Business Resource Center, 69 N. Chadbourne St. Appointments must be scheduled by noon the prior Tuesday by calling 325-657-4210.

Howard stressed the Development Review Committee will continue meeting, adding that the Development Task Force will analyze how the processes, procedures and practices discussed during those meetings might be improved.

For more information about the Development Task Force, contact Howard at 325-657-4210 or [email protected].