Скачать или смотреть City Council Approves Changes to Building Fire%2

Yesterday Chattanooga joined 21 other cities in debuting President Obama's Tech-Hire initiative. The goal is to provide training to help fill open programming and technology jobs here.

On Tuesday, developers and city planners discussed how Chattanooga will accommodate those newcomers. The fire department worked with the city council on a measure that will make building those kind of commercial buildings less of a hassle.

Some developers say the process of acquiring all the right permits and inspections to build in downtown Chattanooga can be a headache.

Mike Price is an engineer who works on building plans. He says the permit process for builders has always been a little bit "disjoined."

Kim White works with the River City Company to help bring new businesses to the downtown area.

"I've heard that a lot from developers that really has been an issue," she said.

But now, sigh of relief for commercial building developers and the Chattanooga fire department after the Chattanooga City Council passed a deal that will make obtaining and paying for fire and safety permits easier.

Chattanooga Fire Marshal, William Matlock says, "We had several concerns were raised and asked for us to change them so that's our goal. That's what we're trying to do is provide a true one stop shop and simplify the process."

Now instead of keeping track and paying a list of $50 dollar fees, a builder will pay the Chattanooga fire Department 20 percent of the total building permit which is cost generated by the land development office.

Matlock says this could make fees go up or down in price, depending on the size of the project.

"It provides a balance on the way we look at it it provides a balance for the amount of work put into the job," Matlock said.

White says this is a good time for this to be approved as Chattanooga tries to attract more developers to the area.

"You go through a lot of hoops to do downtown development in general so i think anything more straight forward is very helpful," White said.

"This will make our process so much easier," Price said.

The land development office will now be the central location builders have to go to in order to get their permits.