§ 23.5-8. Expedited project and building permit review program.

a)

Purpose and intent . The expedited project and building permit review program provides qualifying projects an efficient process to resolve issues in a timely manner through face-to-face meetings with a city representative without sacrificing any requirements established in this chapter. The expedited project and building permit review program is available to qualifying companies that are expanding operations or moving into the city so that value-added employment may be created at a faster pace.

b)

Applicability . The city shall utilize the following qualification criteria when determining whether a company qualifies for the targeted expedited permitting program:

1.

The company must fall into one (1) of the following industry clusters:

A.

Medical and pharmaceutical;

B.

Aerospace and engineering;

C.

Information technology;

D.

Business and financial services;

E.

Education;

F.

Research and development;

G.

Tourism (including hotels);

H.

Green/sustainable manufacturing; and

I.

Any other industry cluster or company headquarters approved by the city council.

2.

The company must demonstrate the capability to create at least twenty (20) new positions in the City of Lake Worth within the first two (2) years of operation; or expand its operation within the city as a result of creating at least twenty (20) new positions in the two (2) years prior to the issuance of the certificate of occupancy for the new facilities; or a combination thereof.

3.

Positions created must be considered value-added employment based on the average wages or compensation paid by the employer. Value-added employment is defined when the average compensation package of positions created is at least twenty (20) percent higher than the current per capita income level in the city.

4.

Companies must pass the city's financial due diligence process to establish solvency and credibility prior to acceptance into the program. Due diligence reports (1) may include a Dun & Bradstreet report or other such reports as deemed necessary by the city, and (2) must be reviewed by the city manager, director for community sustainability, economic development manager, or finance administrator for the city.

5.

Notwithstanding the criteria above, a company may qualify for the expedited project and building permit review program if the company is a sanctioned project by the State of Florida or other officially sanctioned economic development organization (OTTED, Enterprise Florida, or Business Development Board of Palm Beach County).

c)

Benefits . Companies that have been accepted into the expedited project and building permit review program shall receive the following benefits:

1.

The city manager or community sustainability director shall appoint a single point of contact at the city who shall be kept apprised of all developments relating to the review of the project thorough the city's development review process including its site plan review committee and review by the appropriate advisory board, in order to keep the project on track and provide a periodic status report to the company's project manager; and

2.

The department for community sustainability shall establish the necessary steps required for project approval in a pre-application meeting, and subsequently, prepare an itemized timetable for the project's completion of the development review process; and

3.

The project shall receive priority at every phase of the review process by city staff, including face-to-face meetings; and

4.

The city's site plan review committee shall review and provide comments relative to the project not to exceed ten (10) business days of submission of plans by the applicant; and

5.

In the case that major issues arise at any point during the development review process, a face-to-face meeting of all concerned parties will be called within two (2) business days so that a resolution may be found in a timely and efficient manner.