By Staff Reports
(LĪHU’E)- – The days of lugging multiple copies of building plans and blueprints to Kaua’i County’s Building Division for review will soon be over, thanks to a new online permitting system called the electronic plan review (EPR).
The new system essentially creates a virtual office where builders and contractors can present their construction projects 24 hours a day and track their projects in real time without having to drive all the way to Līhu’e.
The EPR also allows county staff to review the projects on their office computers and provide input on the electronic documents so that everyone that needs to see them can add their comments. Additionally, email communications between all parties reduces the amount of time spent on the project review.
“We recently started testing the new system, and so far, the process is working smoothly. Our goal is to go paperless in a few months so we’d like to encourage everyone to submit their building plans electronically,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr.
Noting its sustainable benefits, the mayor said that the new system will reduce harmful emissions and traffic congestion, as well as save a lot of trees.
Other advantages to implementing an electronic plan review system include the following:
- Cost savings due to the reduction in paper usage and elimination of most trips to the Building Division.
- Time savings due to the reduction in time spent reproducing sets of plans.
- Allows for simultaneous review by county agencies.
- Has the potential to speed up the permitting approval process.
- Ease of plan retrieval for future building projects and public safety needs.
Over the last several years, the County of Kaua’i has incorporated several technology-driven initiatives into its online customer services, including: submittal of bids and proposals for county projects; payment of real property taxes, sewer bills, and motor vehicle registration fees; submittal of employment applications for county jobs; enrollment in Connect CTY, the county’s emergency notification system; and obtaining various county forms.
“This initiative is part of our continuing effort to provide the best possible customer service to our residents, businesses and visitors,” said the mayor.
For more information, visit the county website, www.kauai.gov or call the Building Division at 808-241-4854.