(1265) Building and Planning Division

The mission of Resource Management Agency (RMA) Building and Planning division is to provide high-quality customer service in the areas of land use, development and resource protection to residents and business operators throughout the unincorporated areas of San Benito County. The team ensures that projects comply with the General Plan, County Code, State and Federal law, and are implemented in a way to achieve good planning standards that are safe, healthy and legal.

• Completed and made available to the public six (6) free pre-approved and engineer-stamped Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) plans.

• Promoted Assistant Director of Planning and Building to Director of Planning and Building.

• Administered State grant funded activities to prepare, adopt and implement plans to streamline housing approvals and accelerate housing to help address the shortage of affordable housing.

• Updated County Building Code to conform to the California Building Standards Code.

• Processed over 730 building permits.

• Develop strategies to enable the more efficient use of staff and other resources to keep up with the increasing levels of applications as the County grows and reduce backlog of building code violation cases.

• Recruit and develop trained personnel to increase breadth and depth of in-house services able to provide to applicants. Implement processes to increase productivity, maintain continuity of oversight and engagement in projects. Evaluate General Plan provisions to see how to best implement guidelines or make recommendations for modifications that accommodate major changes that impact the Plan. Reduce backlog of and more efficiently manage code violations. Implement violation fee tracking in Accela. Create avenues for staff development and opportunities for career growth.