Hello! Welcome to “DSinsider.” This brand new, interactive blog will become your go-to source for all that is happening in Raleigh’s Development Services Department. We hope this will be an effective way to connect with our customers about all development-related topics.
The purpose of this blog is to establish a forum for open dialogue with our customers. Having open channels of communication provides opportunities for discussion of topics that are important to you. DSinsider will give you an inside look at our services and explain changes to policy and procedure. It will also provide updates when our forms are edited, process enhancements are made, or data and benchmark reports are available. I know these topics can be a little mundane, so be on the lookout for the occasional feel-good post to keep things interesting.
So who is the DS Insider? Well that would be me, Stephanie Currier. I first got into the field of Planning when I was in college and couldn’t decide on a major. I came across a sign on campus that got my attention. “Can’t decide on a major? Want to help people and make a difference in your community?” Yes, yes, and YES! I went to the meeting for aspiring Planners and was hooked. After graduating from East Carolina University with a degree in Urban and Regional Planning, I went on to work in a variety of positions including Planner and Assistant Director of Planning & Inspections. Most recently, I served as Raleigh’s Development Services Customer Service Center Manager.
I first arrived in Raleigh in 2009 and was tasked with opening the new Development Services Customer Service Center (DSCSC). After months of training and preparation, its doors opened on February 10, 2010. It was exciting and challenging – we had a new team, in a new space, with new leadership, and greater expectations – but we endured and worked really hard to improve transparency, predictability, and efficiency.
Five years later, the DSCSC is a lively one-stop-shop for permitting staffed with friendly, knowledgeable people; but we know that there is room for improvement. In response to industry needs and in an effort to improve customer service, we have added more time slots and expanded our offering of expedited review services and face-to-face meetings. We now also provide lending letters, fee estimates, pre-application conferences, and project coordination services. I’ll go into more detail about each of these in future blog posts.
Getting the DSCSC up and running and managing the day-to-day operations was a rewarding, life-changing experience. This past year, however, I found myself at a crossroads and sought a position in the Communications office which serves the Department of City Planning, Develoment Services Department, and the office of Economic Development. I spend my days doing something that I love – writing articles and press releases, assisting my colleagues with web and form updates, and keeping our citizens informed via social media. And now I can add writing a blog to that list!
Thank you for taking the time to read this post and getting to know me a little better. Please check back every Wednesday for new posts, and if you have any ideas for future blog topics, please share them with me! DSinsider is intended to be interactive, so your comments, questions, and feedback are encouraged.
