Burlington Starbucks Secures Fast Plan Check Approval for HVAC TI

Permit Place recently completed permit expediting services for CoolSys Light Commercial Solutions, LLC and their client Starbucks in Burlington, Washington. The project involved a shopping center tenant improvement (TI) focused on swapping out a like-for-like HVAC package unit, requiring coordination with the local Planning and Community Development Department for plan check approval.

As part of the broader CoolSys program, our team was tasked with maintaining consistency and speed across multiple locations while adapting to the specific requirements of the Burlington jurisdiction. From receipt of plans to permit issuance, the project was completed in just 43 days, supporting CoolSys and Starbucks’ aggressive rollout timelines.

Challenges

The primary challenge on this project was timing around receipt of a required Letter of Authorization (LOA), which was needed before the application could be formally submitted. Until the LOA was in hand, plan review could not begin, creating potential risk to the overall schedule.

Managing this dependency while keeping the project positioned for a fast review required careful coordination and advance preparation.

Solutions and Strategies

• Utilized our established Due Diligence process to prepare all submittal materials in advance
• Maintained proactive communication with both CoolSys and the Planning and Community Development Department to align on requirements and timing
• Executed strategic application planning so that once the LOA arrived, the package was complete, compliant, and ready for immediate submittal

Project Wins

• Achieved first-round approval at plan check, avoiding resubmittals and additional review cycles
• Met the overall 43-day timeline from plans receipt to permit issuance
• Minimized disruption to Starbucks operations during the tenant improvement
• Demonstrated how Permit Place’s proactive measures support repeatable, on-schedule TIs across multiple jurisdictions