After receiving scathing reviews about the frustrations and inefficiencies of its site review process, Austin has contracted with McKinsey to begin the work of overhauling the process.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson is prioritizing an overhaul of the city’s site review process, after receiving scathing reviews from a recent analysis by the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Co.
After surveying customers completing the site review process, as well as 150 city employees working in the 11 departments involved in the site review process, “found only 1% of respondents were satisfied with the process,” according to a paywalled article by Mike Christen for the Austin Business Journal.
Non-paywalled reporting on Mayor Watson’s response to the analysis is available in an article published by the Real Deal. Mayor Watson is quoted connecting the frustrations and the inefficiencies of the city’s site review process to the increasingly unaffordable hosing market in the city.
The Austin City Council subsequently voted on Thursday, August 31 to spend $2.5 million to hire McKinsey & Co. on a six-month contract to improve the site review process, as reported in a separate paywalled article by Christen (source article below)
FULL STORY: Austin taps McKinsey to improve site plan review process
Austin Lot Size Changes Could Make Homes More Affordable
Land acquisition makes up 15 to 20 percent of the cost of an average home in the Austin area.
Austin’s ‘Affordability Unlocked’ Initiative Faces Lawsuit
A group of 18 plaintiffs is suing to overturn the city of Austin’s “Affordability Unlocked” planning initiative.
New York Suspends Land Use Reviews for Shelters
The Adams administration in New York City will relax the review process for homeless shelters to create new space for arriving asylum seekers.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
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Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
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