Tucson Standard

Published on May 20, 2024

Planning and Development Services Department (PDSD) was recently honored with the Award of Distinction at the Metropolitan Pima Alliance Common Ground Award Ceremony. This accolade highlights PDSD's efforts to improve customer experience, promote transparency, and foster sustainable growth through initiatives such as the Casita Model Plan Design Competition, Permit Review Lanes, and the Permit Dashboard.

The Casita Model Plan Design Competition was awarded an AARP 2023 Community Challenge grant to address the need for affordable and accessible housing. In collaboration with AIA Southern Arizona, PDSD invited designers to submit ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) designs, resulting in 63 submissions. A jury selected ten designs to feature in the Casita Model Plan Library, offering homeowners pre-approved plans to simplify and reduce barriers to building casitas.

Launched in August 2023, the Permit Review Lanes initiative streamlined the permit review process by introducing targeted review times based on project scale. Permits for residential solar, residential trades, and electrical reconnects are now issued within one day. Fast Lane permits for residential models, commercial trades, and other specific projects have a 15-day review target.

Introduced in October 2023, the Permit Dashboard is an interactive tool designed to enhance transparency and efficiency in the permitting process. It provides insights into review times and the average duration from application to permit issuance. With an on-time review rate of approximately 85%, it has been well-received by stakeholders and the community.

The Award of Distinction recognizes PDSD's innovative approaches to enhancing customer experience and its commitment to continuous improvement.

To contact us: call 311 or visit Tucson 311.

City of Tucson

255 W. Alameda St.

Tucson, Arizona 85701