So many people have asked for copies of the Zucker Systems report on recommended improvements to the Planning and Building Regulations functions in Richmond that I described in City Council Votes to Merge Planning Commission and Design Review Board, February 24, 2007, that I am making them available to download. Click here for the Report, and click here for the Appendix.

It is important to note that, while highly critical, the report was the result of the city manager and the department heads in charge of Planning and Building Regulations who wanted to improve the level of service and therefore invited criticism and recommendations for change. These same department heads have already started making many of the recommended changes. This particular targeted audit is a part of the City Council’s commitment to initiate targeted audits of critical City functions on an ongoing basis to improve service, efficiency and cost effectiveness.