Peer Review
The Preferred Fast-Track to Getting Approved

A cost consideration of importance in any construction project is permit processing. Not only is there a cost penalty associated with delays in the building department, but a direct charge by most building departments for time required to review poorly presented drawings and associated documentation.
One major way in which MSC can expedite the processing system is by using Peer Review, which is the preferred and recommended way to get project and permit approvals in Fairfax County and other counties that utilize this system. Fairfax County requirements recommend a peer-review for all building projects exceeding 4500 square feet as a fast track solution.

The key to avoiding these delays and costs is having drawings that are prepared under the direction of, or reviewed by, design professionals with experience in the real world of shepherding projects through these regulatory processes. In the Peer Review process, professional reviewers that are pre-approved and certified by the County take part directly in the review and evaluation of construction plans and blueprints prior to their being submitted to the County regulatory offices for approval. In this way, Peer Review proactively takes an effective role in making the process happen. By using Peer Review, we can cut down the time it takes for plans and permits to get approved, sometimes by as much as 50% or greater, which sometimes amounts to two months or more for larger projects.

But not just anyone can use Peer Review directly, without an outside consultant. It takes an organization with the know-how, that is intimately familiar with those working directly with the process. We expedite the Peer Review process.

In our area of operations, MSC is that firm. We are the preeminent Peer-Review Process specialist in the Washington DC area, and the MSC team has coordinated almost 70% of the peer-reviews in Fairfax County. It takes getting the right plans and permit applications to the right people in the right offices, to get the right approvals, when you need them. MSC has perfected this process, and knows how to take it to completion. We provide the specialists, manpower, technical support and software programs to make every regulatory aspect of the project work as scheduled. MSC has many years of experience processing both planning and construction submittals for approval.

Modified Processing
The Modified Processing Procedure allows for issuances and extensions of partial permits prior to full approval of site and building plans. It also gives authorization to subdivide and compartmentalize the site plan so that separate areas can be strategically addressed. Typically, Modified Processing applies to projects that are at least $25 million in scope: $20 million for the structure itself, and $5 million for the land.
MSC was the first company to initialize and support Modified Processing with property management permit issuance, which has proven to be invaluable to those businesses and industries seeking to expand or locate their existing facilities in Fairfax County.

Major features and benefits:

• Allows matching of elements of site plan with other permits
• Guarantees fast review
• Only bond agreement required is Cash for Conservation
• Permits can be extended
• Increases project flexibility
• Decreases overall project time

The Criteria
Those businesses or industries desiring to locate or expand their existing facilities in Fairfax County, VA, must provide evidence that indicates their intent and the ability to proceed with the physical improvements within a reasonable timeframe following approval of their development plans.
The operation of businesses and industries proposing to locate or expand their existing facilities in the County must not alter the nature and character of the County and its communities to any significant extent.

The special processing procedure (Modified Processing) will be available to those businesses and industries that will:

• Have a real estate assessed value in excess of $25,000,000 on a new site. While this figure includes total; real estate assessed value, including land and improvements, the improvements to the property must have a value of at least $20,000,000.
• Have only one permanent building to be constructed by the applicant in the proposal being submitted.
• Have the proposal defined by a unique site plan and not several smaller projects with several site plans included in a single proposal to meet the assessed value criterion.