The Extremely Slow Approval Process is Killing Development Projects Statewide
The disasters associated with the housing approval process in Massachusetts is painting a negative picture of the local real estate market. Unfortunately, this has had a dreadful impact on affordable housing in the entire state. It’s not only negating the real estate market, but also discouraging investors from coming into the market. Developers seem to be the most hit by this inefficient approval process.
Several experts who specialize in the real estate market have been giving their takes on the issue. Some have even proffered solutions to the problem. Let’s look at some of the current lapses in the system that is casting a bad shadow on Massachusetts’ real estate market.
Where Documents Are Submitted
This is something the authorities need to look into urgently. In some of the locations, developers need to submit their applications at separate offices before approval. The problem is not so much about the offices being separate; but in the fact that the distances between the locations are not by any means close.
The applicants are expected to travel to one location, and travel to another location. Developers think this is a little too much. One would have thought that the authorities would have discarded such systems buy now.
In some states, you don’t need to travel between locations to have your applications approved. Everything is carried out in a single location, where you just need to move between offices.
Better Coordination between the Respective Agencies
This is another obvious problem that has been causing setbacks in the industry. There seems to be a poor level of coordination between the agencies that should permit housing approval. In the 21st century, you do not expect this sort of thing to happen. Sadly, that is what developers have had to contend with in some parts of Massachusetts.
Besides, having a single location where all the papers are processed, agencies need to do better in stepping up employee coordination. Some of the ways through which that can be achieved is through
organizing more interdepartmental meetings and forming interdepartmental committees. On such interdepartmental meeting days, all departments will be brought to speed about what has been going on in the agency. This will enable all the departments to be on the same page. And with the availability of interdepartmental committees, it will be easier to attend to applications that are stuck in one department or another.
Standardization of Building Codes across Massive Geographical Areas Is Necessary
Some industry experts have attributed part of the problem to the inequality of building codes in large geographical locations. In some locations, permit application as well as review processes differ greatly from what is obtainable in other locations. This has not helped the industry in any way but make the approval process more difficult and expensive. The building codes are not consistent between locations. And that is unfortunately adding to the whole problem.
Standardizing the building codes, as well as the application process and review process will help to alleviate the hardship developers have to go through to get a building permit. The regional builders will benefit mostly from such a move.
Change Zoning Codes
A lot of zoning codes have not been reviewed and changed for a long time now. It is important to update these zoning codes because a lot of things are changing around us. Market conditions, development goals, neighborhood boundaries, materials, and constructions process are among things that change regularly.
The zoning codes that were used five decades ago may not be suitable for the current environment. Experts are advising that the zoning codes should be changed where necessary to reflect the market conditions, and every other index that affects the real estate industry today.
Conclusion
A lot of factors can be blamed for the frustrating approval process in Massachusetts. Developers, home owners, and investors are not finding the situation funny. The above tips are suggestions made by experts to improve the approval process in Massachusetts. The implementation of one or more measures to curb this ugly trend is already in the pipeline in the state.