| CLIENT: | Starbucks for CoolSys Light Commercial Solutions, LLC |
| LOCATION: | Bellingham, Washington |
| PROJECT TYPE: | Stand-Alone TI |
Permit Place recently completed permit expediting services for Starbucks for CoolSys Light Commercial Solutions, LLC in Bellingham, Washington. The project focused on a stand-alone tenant improvement (TI) that required mechanical permits for new HVAC package units and remote condensing units supporting ice machines.
Our team managed the submittal and coordination process with the City of Bellingham Planning & Community Development Department.
Working as the liaison between CoolSys, Starbucks and the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), Permit Place was responsible for guiding the mechanical TI scope from initial application through final plan check approval. Despite the technical nature of the HVAC upgrades, permits were secured in just 16 days from receipt of plans.
Challenges
The primary challenge on this project was coordinating timely inputs across multiple project stakeholders during key milestones. Clarifications related to equipment details, schedule priorities, and documentation required careful follow-up to ensure alignment with the City of Bellingham Planning & Community Development Department’s review process.
Without tight coordination, even straightforward mechanical TI work at a stand-alone location can risk unnecessary review cycles or extended timelines.
Solutions and Strategies
To offset the communication gaps, Permit Place leaned heavily on its structured Due Diligence process at project start. We clearly defined submittal requirements, review timelines, and AHJ expectations in advance, then implemented proactive measures to keep the project moving.
Our team maintained consistent outreach to both the client and the AHJ, confirming details ahead of time and packaging a complete mechanical permit application.
Strategic application planning minimized back-and-forth during plan review and supported an efficient path to plan check approval.
Project Wins
Despite the communication challenge, the project achieved a first round approval with the City of Bellingham Planning & Community Development Department. This meant no costly resubmittals, fewer surprises, and a predictable construction schedule for the Starbucks TI.
Completing the mechanical permit process in only 16 days demonstrated how effective coordination, thorough Due Diligence, and proactive measures can keep even communication-challenged projects on track. While this was not part of a larger national program, the same processes and permit expediting services used here are scalable to multi-site rollouts for clients like CoolSys and Starbucks nationwide.