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Council approves resolution to reform permitting and development process; city rolls out SmartGov and digital plan review

5679847 ยท June 30, 2025

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Summary

Council approved a resolution directing the city manager to continue streamlining permitting and development review. Staff described recent and planned reforms including SmartGov online permitting, Bluebeam digital plan review, a newly filled building-official position and ordinance amendments to reduce barriers and improve construction quality.

The Eagle Pass City Council on June 24 approved a resolution directing the city manager to reform and streamline the city's permitting and development procedures. Staff reported on progress and next steps including new software deployments, staffing and recent ordinance updates.

Community Development Director Placido Madar and other staff outlined a series of administrative and technical changes intended to speed plan review and improve construction quality. Key elements cited:

- SmartGov online permitting portal (new): allows applicants to apply, pay and track permits online and enables staff coordination across departments. - Bluebeam digital plan-review software: enables simultaneous reviewer markups and faster consolidated comments to applicants. - Addition of a building official position to supervise review and inspection processes. - Administrative-plat approval, reduced parking-stall depth (20' to 18'), reduced landscape and setback requirements for some zoning districts, and a master-plan ordinance to require phase-level plans for larger developments.

Madar said the city had purchased SmartGov and was in rollout and training, and that Bluebeam would shorten review cycles by letting multiple reviewers see and annotate the same plan in real time. He also said a recently hired building official should help applicants resolve technical issues more quickly.

Council approved the resolution unanimously and staff said they will continue public workshops and stakeholder outreach as new digital tools and process changes come online.