Cheltenham Township will launch the OpenGov Enterprise Resource Planning Software Solution, a permitting and licensing module, on Wednesday, February 5.
According to township officials, the online portal “will streamline the application process, making it easier, faster, and more user-friendly for residents, contractors, and developers.” As of March 7, the township will no longer accept paper applications.
Applicants will apply for all zoning and permit requests, including zoning determinations, land development applications, construction, fire protection, and/or right-of-way permits through the platform.
“Users will have the ability to start, save, and submit applications when ready, with a built-in payment portal for a more seamless experience,” the township said. “After submission, the applicant will be able to login at any time to track the status of the application and what steps are next – such as payment, document review, required approvals, inspections, and permit issuance. A comment feature will allow for situation-specific outreach to staff as well.”
The township’s ‘Report a Concern’ feature will also move to the OpenGov portal, officials said. Concerns such as an abandoned vehicle, pothole, missed trash collection, streetlight issue, or other issues will be routed directly to the appropriate department, and the resident will have the option to request follow-up on the concern.
The memo continues:
A future feature of the software will be the ability to ‘Start a Project’. Through a series of yes/no questions, a checklist of necessary permits and/or applications will be generated, keeping track of all project steps and approvals in one place.
Additional key benefits of this change will be faster application processing and real-time updates. Within the portal, a guest email can be added to receive notifications. For example, if a contractor adds a homeowner’s email, both will be notified when a permit is created. Permits will be delivered electronically, eliminating a trip to the Township Building. Contractors working on multiple projects in the Township will be able to see all their permits in one spot.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this exciting transition and look forward to providing you with a more efficient service.
More details can be found here.
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