Planning and Development Services Department Mission Statement To facilitate the orderly and safe development of our City through responsive customer service. Program Information The Planning and Development Services Department is responsible for orderly development of our City and for protecting the health, safety, and quality of life of the citizens of San Antonio through implementation of the City’s Master Plan Policies and regulation of land and building development. In addition, the department seeks to facilitate an efficient and effective development process that supports the Master Plan Policies, growth, and economic development. These processes include comprehensive, neighborhood, regional, and community planning, and granting authority to develop land, construct, and occupy buildings. More specifically, the department is responsible for all components of the City’s Master Plan, annexation, neighborhood capacity building, rights determination, subdivision mapping/parcel addressing, zoning and subdivision administration, building codes enforcement, contractor licensing and registration, landscaping, tree preservation, sign regulation, and traffic impact analysis. Since City development involves partnerships with other City departments and outside agencies, the department seeks to facilitate the coordination of these reviews to provide responsive customer service throughout the development process and to produce neighborhood and community plans that include goals and action steps for land use, housing, economic development, community facilities, and transportation networks. The Department also provides administrative and technical support to boards and commissions that direct and review issues on land development and construction regulations. These boards include the Board of Adjustment, Building and Fire Codes Board of Appeals, Plumbing Appeals and Advisory Board, Mechanical Appeals and Advisory Boards, Electrical Supervisory Board, Zoning Commission, and the Planning Commission. Goals & Objectives • Promote Master Plan Policies.      • Ensure consistency with Master Plan Polices in implementing development policies.      • Work with a subcommittee of the Planning Commission to review the application or use of Master Plan Policies.      • Educate the public on Master Plan Policies. • Plan for orderly growth and development. • Help to facilitate the development of a viable urban community through strengthened partnerships among all levels of     government and the private sector.      • Assist in providing an understanding of community changes and identify opportunities for growth and development.      • Update the three-year Community Development Strategic Plan.      • Assess current real estate conditions and determine absorption rates through City-wide real estate market analysis. • Assist in the development of regional transportation systems.      • Amend the Major Thoroughfare Plan to reflect new growth and development.      • Partner with MPO to address various transportation issues: bicycle and pedestrian projects, rail transportation study, micro-        simulation transportation modeling studies, and commuter rail study. • Develop urban design policies and standards that preserve neighborhoods and improve the design and attractiveness of the   City’s neighborhoods.      • Continue timely reviews of Certificate of Compliance applications within adopted Corridor Overlay Districts and        Neighborhood Districts and provide assistance to applicants.      • Implement the Neighborhood Conservation District Program by developing zoning ordinances to ensure future        development is compatible with existing neighborhood character.      • Research and implement new urban design applications. • Protect the health, safety, and quality of life of the citizens of San Antonio.      • Participate in the development of codes at a national level.      • Adopt and update the latest building and land development codes.      • Continue to operate the Special Inspection Program.      • Support other City development-related initiatives. • Improve cycle time for permits.      • Develop pilot program for electronic plan review.      • Continue community outreach to educate customers regarding the development process and to identify opportunities to         improve cycle time.      • Implement individual accountability system for staff.      • Continue completeness review process to help eliminate re-submittals and ensure proper assignment of reviews.      • Explore expedited plan review process. • Ensure consistency and quality of services provided.      • Increase the number of staff with certification.      • Increase the number of hours of staff training.      • Continue to increase cross-training to improve staff’s knowledge of the overall development process from planning to         issuing a certificate of occupancy.      • Complete final phase of integrating all City departments and outside agencies involved in the development process in the        same land development software to eliminate silo software systems. • Promote customer service philosophy to facilitate the development process.      • Continue to operate San Antonio Building Codes Academy for customers and staff.      • Create UDC training course for customers and staff.      • Expand on-line training of the development process using the latest technology.      • Expand on-going communication plan (both internal and external) to provide valuable information to expedite plans        through the development process.      • Continue Secret Shopper Program.      • Finalize new technology to improve inspections by deploying “smart phones” to inspectors.