Lucas County’s report on our red-tape-encrusted development process gets it mostly right and partly wrong.
The board of county commissioners hired a consultant who told them that the process for getting approvals to build everything from utility sheds to manufacturing plants in Lucas County is overly complex. A big part of the problem is overlapping regulators and political subdivisions.
The maze of politicians and inspectors whose various demands must be met can be an obstacle to economic growth in Lucas County.
The report, detailed by Blade business writer James Trumm on Tuesday, “Report offers ways to spur development,” found that all developments, regardless of size, typically involve two political subdivisions and as many as six reviews by government agencies and officials. These can include the county Health Department, the Building Regulations Department, the sanitary engineer, the engineer, and various township fire departments.
Federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are also more closely regulating development.