ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY UNVEILS A NEW PLANS
REVIEW PROCESS:
JUST ANOTHER WAY ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS
From THAT…
By Sarah Hasib
To THIS!
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ffec ve June 1, 2015, the Athens‐Clarke County
Unified Government (ACC) implemented a new
plans review process to enhance ACC’s role in local
real estate development. The ini a ve is the result
of recommenda ons made by the Mayor’s Economic
Development Task Force and a thorough analysis of the plans
review process led by the Manager’s Office. comments were
solicited from developers and design consultants familiar with
the ACC plans review process and consulted with all levels of
staff in the departments that par cipate in the process. The
result is a streamlined process intended to provide a more
customer‐service oriented approach to plans review.
Key ACC commitments in the new plans review process:
Visioning Mee ngs: Applicants will have the opportunity to
request a mee ng with all reviewing departments prior to
making a formal plans submi al. Applicants may request a
Visioning Mee ng through the ACC Planning Department;
mee ngs will be scheduled on alterna ng Wednesdays.
Single plans submi al des na on: All plans and revisions will
be submi ed through the ACC Planning Department, which
will distribute the plans to all of the applicable reviewing
departments.
Single fee des na on: Plans review fees will be taken at the
me of plans submi al and one payment for all associated
review fees can be made to the Building Inspec on
Department.
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Review turnaround and comments: ACC has made a
commitment to complete the ini al review of building plans
within 8 calendar days of a submi al deadline and site plans
within 15 calendar days of a submi al deadline. Addi onally,
staff will provide their comments to the design consultant at
least 24 hours prior to the roundtable plans review mee ng
to allow design consultants to be be er prepared to discuss
comments at that mee ng.
Roundtable: ACC staff from departments involved in the
plans review process will be available for a roundtable
mee ng with the developer/design consultant. The staff
members that are present at the mee ng will have decision‐
making capabili es on behalf of their respec ve departments
to allow for an expedient discussion of proposed alterna ves
and changes. Roundtable mee ngs are held on Thursdays – 9
days a er a building plans submi al deadline and 16 days
a er a site plan submi al deadline.
Development Coordinator: ACC has created a new posi on,
Development Coordinator, housed in the Economic
Development Department. The Development Coordinator
serves as a point of contact and liaison between the
development community, business community, and ACC staff
and officials, providing assistance on a variety of
development related issues, including permi ng and code
requirements, and facilita ng the plans review process.
More informa on and resources related to the plans review
process can be found at:
h p://www.athensclarkecounty.com/843/Plans‐Review
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT www.AthensBusiness.org 706-613-3233
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Meet the Staff: Sarah Hasib,
Development Coordinator
Sarah Hasib joined the Economic Development Department in the newly created
Development Coordinator posi on on June 1, 2015. In the Development Coordinator
role Sarah serves as a point of contact and liaison between the development
community, business community, and Athens‐Clarke County Unified Government staff
and officials, providing assistance on a variety of development related issues, including
permi ng and code requirements, and facilita ng the Unified Government’s plans
review process.
Sarah grew up in a small college town in Illinois. She graduated from the University of
Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign with a degree in Poli cal Science and from the University
of Texas at Aus n with a JD and MA in Middle Eastern Studies. Prior to joining the
Economic Development Department, Sarah worked as an Assistant City A orney for the
City of Dallas, Texas for 7 ½ years, working primarily on economic development and
Love Field Airport ma ers.
Sarah and her fiancé, Pete, moved to Athens from Dallas, Texas in October 2014. Sarah
and Pete like to travel in their free me; and since their move, are par cularly enjoying
exploring the Athens area and the southeast.
Summer 2015
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