Shanu Singh Guliani

The Permitting Process…CTAC Review
June 22, 2007

Our new store’s drawings went to permitting last week—in particular CTAC Review. This type of permitting is typically a 5-day review process and approved projects are issued permits at the time of approval. Each county has their own rules and regulations relating to permitting. If you are in a rush and your small project abides by the guidelines set forth by Commercial Technical Assistance Center (CTAC), then this is a great speedy way to get your drawings permitted.

There is only one hiccup—you have to have your GC (general contractor) picked out before you submit for permitting.

After I received the final drawings in my hand—I did like most and went to bid them. I had picked out three GC’s based on their references and other retail upfits the company had did. With copies of the final drawings in hand, the contractors were able to review and comment. After each meeting with the GC and/or the PM (project manager), each said it would take approximately 2 weeks to get a bid together.

I’m sitting at home thinking I’ll finally get a chance to breathe when my architect emails me saying I have to have a GC listed on my permit application. I told him I haven’t picked out a GC yet because I just got the permittable drawings in my hand.

I called CTAC of Mecklenburg County, was transferred a billion times, and of course received a billion and one different answers. Long story short—I reiterated that the purpose of CTAC is to have a speedy review and you can’t have a GC picked out until you have final drawings, which I now have—so to wait two weeks for a bid then to submit for CTAC will put us behind. The “FINAL ANSWER” from CTAC was too bad that’s the way the system works…even if it doesn’t make sense whatsoever.

What did I do?

I called the GC I felt most comfortable working with and asked to put his license on my permit application.

The different answers I received from CTAC if I were to do this and change my mind about the GC, I chose:

1. If I am to change my GC after my drawings are permitted, I will have to resubmit.
2. If I change only my subcontractors, I won’t have to resubmit.
3. If I change my GC or subcontractors I will only have to go downtown and fill out an application to change my GC, but the GC on the original application will be billed so he too will have to submit a form saying he will not be the GC.

 Word to the Wise: I’m guessing to avoid a headache either wait and get the bids, decide on which GC, then submit to CTAC. OR Take the chance I did. OR Use drawings that you think you aren’t going to change (yeah I’ve already changed things due to pricing) much about 3 weeks before they go for permitting. This is how the system works even if it sucks. I learned the hard way and am warning those ready for permitting.

Posted by Shanu Singh Guliani on June 22, 2007 | Comments (0)