The Yelp for cities and city officials. Would you use it?
[{"id": "dyl7kie", "text": "This website (cityplanningreview.com) was started to bring some transparency to the city building and review process. We recently found out that one of CA's largest multi-family builders moved a majority of their development to TX and WA. Their reason was that a development took 3-4 years in CA, and about 1 year in WA and TX. Its a no brainer to move operations. There needs to be a correction in the city building and review departments, and it will only come through open discussion and feedback of the stakeholders.", "replies": [{"id": "dylbov7", "text": "i don't get it. If you give a business a bad review on Yelp, they can do something \\(in theory\\) to fix the problem you identified. A slow building department in a city is almost always deliberate \\- its a way to keep development out of your town. Complaining about it results in... nothing. Only voting in officials that will appoint development friendly officials would change anything. These people aren't responsible to voters, and for a reason. They are responsible to their boss \\- the elected official. That's where the pressure needs to be applied.", "replies": [{"id": "dyljl4i", "text": "Thank you for your comments. To give you an example on a large scale, what if Amazon chose the most business friendly city in the US? All if not most of CA cities would not be considered. There are also many circumstances where we are looking to do a development in a given city, however if we knew that that city in particular takes 3 times as long for a CUP, 14 months vs. 4 months, maybe we would rethink it. In the end, this would hurt the city and force action. This could only happen through numbers. ", "replies": [{"id": "dynktj0", "text": "Right now it happens through conversations, not numbers. We are a local development company and constantly have people calling and asking about local building departments and what time frame to expect. That's the way to get the most accurate information \\- talk to a guy who has done it before. There are so many variables that go into how a building department respond to you, like what you are applying for, how it fits into the mayor's vision/campaign promises, what state and local incentives there are driving this location, and even personal relationships that can effect your experience in the approval process and permitting process. I think a five star rating system could not possibly give you enough information to make a decision like this. ", "replies": [{"id": "dypjuiq", "text": "Being in development for 20 years I understand the politics that go into it, and not necessarily by the code. The point is to take the politics out and provide a mouthpiece to people who typically don't have one. I personally believe a simplistic rating system is the only way that can do it. Why is CA so much worse to deal with than TX? Because there is no accountability, and people have no outlet to demand otherwise.", "replies": [{"id": "dytfo0u", "text": "A rating system definitely won't hurt, but you are talking about \"taking the politics\" out of an area that is inherently political. Despite what developers like you and me like to think, land use and building ordinances is a political game and always will be. Why is CA worse than TX? It all boils down to local political priorities. TX might prioritize development while CA prioritizes other things like environment or preserving some measure of life\\-quality. Who sets these priorities? The administration, the people we vote into office. Fundamental change and accountability for land use questions is about influencing voters, not so much in directing capital flows. The penalty a township feels when it fails to attract new development, for example, is abstract \\- while the penalty for not serving the priorities of your constituents is very real. ", "replies": [], "depth": 6}], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}, {"id": "dymk8yn", "text": "It's still sharing information and helping your compatriots avoid bad situations tho, right?", "replies": [{"id": "dynkkt9", "text": "Yes i suppose it could help a few people make quick decisions about where to avoid. I just think its a bit naive to think this will change anything in towns that have slow building process. It could be a bit misleading using a simple 5 star rating system for a topic that can be really complex, as well. For example, a town might be very unwelcoming to multifamily development but welcome industrial or office developers with open arms. Not sure how that gets reflected other than through testimonials, which, as we all know, rarely get read. ", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "dymhaq7", "text": "In what universe are Houston and Dallas the least business friendly cities in the country?  Houston literally has no zoning code.", "replies": [{"id": "dyn8301", "text": "There are no ratings there yet. They need to be rated for them to be better sorted to the top.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}]