Wake Commissioners Streamline School Permit Process

1/24/2008

The Wake County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved an agreement to assume responsibility for building permitting, plan review and inspections for all Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) projects in the City of Raleigh, and the Towns of Apex, Cary, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell and Zebulon. Both the Blue Ribbon Committee on the Future of Wake County and Wake County Citizens’ Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) made these recommendations in previous reports. The consolidation is expected to make the school planning and permitting process faster, easier and less expensive.

Based on WCPSS projections, Wake County will inherit approximately 10,000 inspections and 1400 hours of plan reviews. The projected building program over the next four years includes 25 new schools, 15 major additions and renovations, 400 modular units and 160 minor plumbing, electrical or mechanical repairs.

"Wake County is in a period of rapid expansion," said Tim Maloney, Wake County Community Services Manager. "Consolidating the permitting and inspection process will allow us to expedite WCPSS building projects to keep up with growth."

To equip the County to provide permitting and inspection services to all WCPSS projects, the Board of Commissioners approved the hiring of three full-time inspectors and two full-time Fire-Rescue personnel. The building permit fees, are expected to offset the costs associated with the new positions.

The City of Raleigh, and the Towns of Apex, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Wake Forest, Wendell and Zebulon have approved the agreement. All other municipalities, with the exception of Fuquay-Varina, are scheduled to consider the agreement at their respective board/council meetings later this month. Wake County continues to work with the town of Fuquay-Varina on a separate agreement that could include the consolidation of site development, in addition to building inspections.

The agreement is for 10 years, beginning March 1, 2008.

For more information, contact Tim Maloney, Wake County Community Services Manager at (919) 856-6678.

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