Residents of unincorporated Marin County whose property
was damaged from the rough winter storms a month ago can qualify for
an expedited permit review process, Marin County Community Development
Agency announced Wednesday.
The program offers help with permits for building,
planning, well water and septic. For people seeking permits to rebuild
damaged property to pre-storm conditions, the expected wait is two weeks.
Anyone with a desire to drastically remodel a property would still have
to apply for a design review or a coastal permit, but the application
would be expedited. A building permit could be available in six to eight
weeks and a planning permit in three to four months. Minor permits for
some repairs are issued the same day.
"Someone who wants to build a dream house will
not be approved without review, but we will still work to get it approved,"
said Tom Lai, a planning division spokesman. "A slightly different
building and slightly new location" would probably be easily approved,
he said. This can be a benefit for property owners who want to make
a "modest increase and update the building’s look."
A disaster recovery team assessed the area and collected
information on damaged locations. The agency said it had a good idea
of who would have possibly been affected by the storms. To make sure
the program is not exploited the planning division will review each
application, Lai said.
In the wake of the storms, the county immediately
began assisting homeowners by giving their permit requests special attention.
In recent weeks the agency realized not everyone in unincorporated areas
knew about the expedited process. In other areas of the county, city
governments are responsible for processing permits.
"The system had already been in place,"
Lai said. "Once a permit is identified as a storm repair permit
it will be treated different."