LA Wants Feedback On Its Plans to Merge Planning, Building and Safety Departments

The city of Los Angeles has posted an online survey (how contemporary!) to gather feedback on its effort to consolidate the regulation of the planning, permitting, and building process into a single city department. In case you're wondering what manner of contrivances such a department would entail, the survey helpfully defines the scope of the proposed restructuring: "[a new development and planning services department would] deliver all services currently provided by the Departments of City Planning and Building and Safety. Additionally, planning functions from the Department of Transportation, plan-check functions from the Fire Department, and land use planning functions from the Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering were approved for transfer to the new department." The city has hired Matrix Consulting Group, headquartered in Mountain View, CA, since approving the original motion by Councilmember Mitch Englander that kicked things off. Matrix is expected to issue a final report in early October 2013 with detailed recommendations for implementing the new department, according to the City Administrative Officer's website. The new department is expected to become effective on January 1, 2014.
· Development Services Reform [Official Site]
· LA's Big Plans to Streamline Planning and Permitting Process [Curbed LA]