Government regulations play a crucial role in ensuring public safety, environmental protection, and community development and they can also significantly prolong the land development process. Land development is a very complex and time-consuming process involving various stages from planning and zoning to construction and permitting.
A major concern in various construction sectors is that government regulations are negatively impacting strategically planned smart development. The regulations are driving up the costs of building residential, commercial and industrial projects and causing some worthwhile and needed smart positive economic development to be canceled or paused. This could result in developers investing in projects in another state that is more friendly to smart development.
Here are five of the major reasons why government regulations prolong the land development process.
Complex Permitting Requirements
The intricate permitting requirements imposed by various government agencies are one of the primary reasons for the lengthy land development process. Numerous permits must be obtained from different regulatory bodies, including environmental agencies, health departments, and building departments. Each permit application requires extensive documentation and may take weeks or even months to be processed. And with some permit processes, it may take multiple years to secure a permit.
Lengthy Review Processes
The permit review processes also extend the land development timeline. Government agencies often have multiple layers of review within their organizations or even between different agencies. For example, a large-scale commercial project may require approval from multiple municipal planning commissions, boards of supervisors and commissioners, state transportation and environmental agencies, and federal regulatory bodies like the Army Corps of Engineers.
Compliance with Environmental Regulations
Compliance with environmental regulations is essential for any land development project, but can add considerable time to the process. Developers must adhere to federal and state environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. This may involve conducting extensive surveys for endangered species or implementing measures to mitigate potential impacts on wetlands or water quality begin.
Public Participation
Public involvement is essential for transparency and community engagement. Public participation in the land development process is another factor contributing to increasing the timeline. Many governments require developers to hold public hearings or provide opportunities for public comment during various stages of a project. This activity can add significant time to the approval process as developers must address resident and interest group concerns.
Financial Constraints
Financial constraints at various levels of government can lead to delays in processing applications and issuing permits for land development projects. Reduced budgets for regulatory agencies mean fewer staff members available to review applications efficiently or longer wait times for necessary approvals due to backlogs in processing applications ultimately prolonging the overall land development timeline
Closing Thought
The goal of proposed land development regulations is to encourage efficient land use, flexibility, and a reduction of potential negative impacts. It is also important to recognize and understand the impacts of the regulations that significantly contribute to extending the duration of land development projects.
Glenn Ebersole is a registered professional engineer and Business Development Manager at PM Design Group, a nationally licensed A&E firm in West Chester, with 14 offices across the U.S. He can be contacted at gebersole@pmdginc.com or 717-575-8572.
