The City of Atlanta recently initiated an end-to-end digital plan submission process. The City of Atlanta is one of the first cities in the Southeast to implement a complete online solution for construction and land-use plan approval, in what is to become a nation-wide technology standard for building and planning departments.
“We welcome the economic development that is coming to our city. To support it responsibly, we must provide the most advanced services possible to citizens and businesses who want to live and work here”, said James Shelby, Commissioner of the City’s Department of Planning and Community Development. “By expediting the plan submission and review process and eliminating paper, ePlans helps make doing business with Atlanta easier, faster and greener. We’re excited and proud to be setting the pace in this arena for the region and the state,” he added.
ePlans provides numerous benefits to customers and the environment including reducing travel time to and from City Hall; reducing emissions from vehicles used for travel to City Hall; reducing fuel consumption and eliminating paper usage and storage. The following represents some of the Green benefits ePlans offers*:
- 720,000 miles driven & 48,000 gallons of gas
- 864,000 lbs. of paper used (1,073 trees)
- $168,00 in fuel costs
- 35,000 lbs. carbon monoxide emitted
- 29,000 hours of driving time
- 432 tons of paper requiring storage
*NOTE: The Green Benefits represent estimates for a community conducting 6,000 plan reviews annually. The City of Atlanta conducted approximately 6,000 plan reviews in 2007.
The City’s online ePlans submission system became operational in June 2008, and further integration with the City’s existing permit application and tracking software is ongoing. ePlans is now available to customers permitting commercial interior alterations. Starting November 10, 2008, all commercial alterations will go electronic. The ePlans rollout will gradually include additional types of permits and reviews, with the goal to have all residential and commercial plans submitted and reviewed electronically by the end of 2009.
Training classes are being offered to make this an easy and efficient process for customers. For more information, contact the Bureau of Buildings at 404.330.6150.
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For more information about this and services of the City of Atlanta visit our website at www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26