City in Motion: Exploring Development in the City of San Diego

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but at DSD there is free assistance. One form it takes is in its CASp service, which helps customers with accessibility design questions. Today, we’re talking with Mehdi Shadyab, DSD’s CASp and a Senior Structural Engineer with the City of San Diego, to learn more about how the service works and his role in it. 

Do you have general questions concerning the application of accessibility standards to a built environment? 

Ask a Certified Access Specialist (CASp): https://www.sandiego.gov/development-services/ask-a-casp

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Most employees in Development Services work on new project plans, verifying that they comply with relevant codes and regulations, which ensures public safety. But what if an existing structure or parts of it appear unsafe, not “to code,” or built entirely without permits? That’s where our Building and Land Use Division comes in. They respond to public reports of questionable construction, property safety hazards, and conditions that are harmful to quality of life. Today, we’re talking to Leslie Sennett, Deputy Director of the Building and Land Use Enforcement Division, or BLUE, about the role her division plays in the community. 

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Our newly formed, service-focused division is dedicated to creating smooth customer interactions throughout DSD. This division includes four sections: Records, Project Submittal and Issuance, Safety and Talent Development, and the Customer Care Center. Today, we’re talking with Leslie Gallagher, Deputy Director of Project Submittal, Customer Care and Employee Services Division, about the ins and outs of her division’s work.

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Many Development Services employees are specialists in a distinct area of development, and the Land Development Review Division, or LDR, is home to several of these specialty areas. If your project plans include landscaping, planning, zoning changes, or impacts to the environment, members from LDR will be part of the review team looking at them. In this season finale, we’re talking to Raynard Abalos, Deputy Director of the Land Development Review Division, to learn more about his division’s role within Development Services. 

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Are you looking to start a DIY project at your home and wondering how to navigate the permitting process? 

We will talk with Dan Scherer, Assistant Deputy Director of the Building, Construction, and Safety Division at DSD and learn about some commonly overlooked home projects involving mechanical, electrical, or plumbing work that require a permit. 

We’ll also talk about the risks of inheriting unpermitted work as a home buyer, and what to do if you discover it on your property. 

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In this episode, meet Ali Fattah, Assistant Deputy Director of our Building, Construction & Safety division, and learn about DSD’s commitment to public health, safety, and the general welfare of San Diegans. He will explain why the permitting and building inspection process is so crucial for the safety of our community and why you should care that it’s done correctly.

Topics discussed in this episode:  

• DSD’s commitment to public safety  
• The importance in obtaining permits 
• Examples of safety public issues when something isn’t permitted properly  

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In this episode, connect with J.C. Thomas, Assistant Director of DSD, and learn about DSD’s digital transformation over the last four years. Prior to COVID, most of the department's work reviewing plans involved dozens employees looking at large bundles of paper with customers, and the City Operations Building where that happened was a beehive of activity. Now, that all happens online. Hear about how that change went down, what it looks like today, and plans for future technological evolution.

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Wondering what Development Services Department (DSD) is all about? In this episode, Elyse Lowe, the department's Director explains DSD’s functions and its role in assisting a wide array of customers in the City of San Diego. You'll also learn more about Elyse and her professional journey, and hear how DSD defines development.

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Learn what City in Motion is about and meet your hosts, Gigi and Dave, from the City of San Diego Development Services Department.

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