We had nowhere to go but up. Nevertheless, the Austin Business Journal reported this week, Austin is showing improvement in its permitting process.
Last year, the city was at the bottom of the class, according to ABJ. That was the conclusion of the "Zucker Report," issued by California firm Zucker Systems. The report gave Austin the worst rating it has ever issued and detailed the many ways in which the city unreasonably holds up developers with its problematic development review process. Zucker also laid out several recommendations for the city to put in motion as soon as possible.
According to ABJ, J. Rodney Gonzales, director of Austin’s Development Services Department, recently reported significant progress on the recommended actions, particularly in the areas of technological updates and making the process understandable to small-business owners. Gonzales told ABJ that problems with overcrowding in the offices' physical space—space and seating for waiting customers is inadequate—still need to be addressed.