Don't want to haul that pile of paperwork to City Hall for a building permit? Hop over to your computer instead.

Salt Lake City has launched a new submission, review and tracking program that enables developers, architects, contractors and residents to submit paper-free plans to city offices.

By starting ProjectDox, the city will spare 512,000 pounds of paper, prevent 2,300 pounds of hydrocarbons, and save customers from driving 360,000 miles, according to estimates from the software company.

"Paper-based plan submission and review is a resource-intensive process that has basically been done the same way for over a century," said city building services director Orion Goff.

Mayor Ralph Becker says the upgrade will be an "incredible tool" for the development community and neighborhood groups. The software also integrates "seamlessly" with the new Web-based program used in the planning division, notes Ron Loback, president and CEO of Avolve Software.

"This technology is going to make a lot of our customers very happy," added Frank Gray, the city's director of community and economic development.

Derek P. Jensen