Photo by Sheila Sund, via Wikimedia Commons

The number of year-to-date permits through the period also increased, with 59,029 issued through Oct. 7 this year versus 50,348 through the same period in 2016. To handle the surge in volume, Denver Community Planning and Development (CPD) hired 29 additional full-time staff this year and said it had cut customer wait time in half. 

 

The CPD came came under fire from the Denver auditor's office in August for what it characterized as "imbalances in staff training and long wait times."  The CPD said its appointment system and e-permitting option has helped streamline operations, in addition to its expanded staff, with most permitting process times now meeting the agency's goals.