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Planning and Building Department, Planning Division, Current Planning Unit, recommending the Board receive and file the demonstration of the Engagement HQ map-based program, which will provide the public with current project information in an easy to understand and accessible format.
FUNDING: N/A
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In response to many requests from the public, elected and appointed officials, and staff, the Planning and Building Department (Department) has researched how to best provide current project information in an easy to understand and accessible format. The Department has worked closely with IT to describe the features and functionality expressed by the community. It was determined that one of the tools offered through Granicus, called Engagement HQ, could fulfill the needs. IT and Department staff have worked together to utilize Engagement HQ to create a map based tool for learning more about current Planning development projects. This tool will be available on the County’s website and users are not required to create an account to access the information posted. Current projects will be shown as a “pin” on the map and when the pin is clicked, the project information including project applicant, project description, site plan, studies and elevations will be available. The project status will also be noted and any updates or additional information related to the project (i.e., environmental documents) will be added as needed.
Not every project under review by the Department will be shown on the map, however those projects with wide public interest will be added to the Project Development Map tool within a couple of weeks after the application received and updated as needed until the project has been approved. This new tool will eliminate the need for the public to use TRAKiT to find out general project information on many projects. Applicants with an application in process will still want to use TRAKiT to monitor their own permit...
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