Kristina Swallow, the previous director of Nevada’s Division of Transportation, has been tapped to steer Tucson’s Planning and Growth Providers Division, metropolis officers introduced Monday.
After an “intensive nationwide search and aggressive course of,” officers stated they have been “thrilled to announce the appointment” of Swallow to move the municipal company.
“With an
spectacular background and a wealth of expertise, Swallow brings a contemporary
perspective and invaluable experience to this pivotal position,” metropolis officers stated.
Swallow graduated from the College of Arizona in 1994, incomes a bachelor’s diploma in civil engineering. She later attained a grasp’s in civil engineering from the College of Nevada Las Vegas.
Swallow served because the director for Nevada’s Division of Transportation till December, managing a finances of $1 billion and round 1,800 workers. Throughout her tenure, she oversaw greater than 200 initiatives over three years, together with the completion of Nevada’s Undertaking Neon—a $1 billion greenback undertaking involving about 4 miles of Interstate 15 and the “Spaghetti Bowl” close to downtown Las Vegas, thought of the busiest stretch of freeway within the state, in keeping with NDOT.
“Throughout her tenure, she demonstrated
distinctive management by overseeing the planning, building,
upkeep, and operations of the state freeway system,” Tucson officers wrote. “Underneath her
steering, a devoted and gifted workforce of 1,800 workers constantly
achieved outstanding outcomes.”
“With almost three a long time of expertise in engineering and administration throughout varied sectors, Swallow has efficiently undertaken quite a few initiatives on the native, state, and federal ranges,” metropolis officers stated, including Swallow’s understanding of each private and non-private sectors “additional enhances her means to make significant contributions to town of Tucson.”
Swallow has deep-rooted ties to Southern Arizona, and her household continues to dwell in Tucson.
“I am enthusiastic about returning to my hometown and reconnecting with previous acquaintances whereas forging new friendships,” Swallow stated.
“Together with her strategic imaginative and prescient, Swallow is poised to information Planning and Growth Providers by an period of constructive transformation,” officers stated, including Swallow is captivated with “addressing the challenges” going through town.
“Recognizing the division’s challenges is a crucial step in the direction of constructive change. By acknowledging these points, we display our dedication to addressing them,” stated Swallow. “The help of the neighborhood is integral to our success. Collectively, we are able to proceed to enhance and rejoice the division’s accomplishments.”
The town’s division manages permits and planning for brand new building, together with residential and business buildings within the metropolis limits, in addition to permits for remodels, building-use modifications, utility re-connections, and code violations.
The division additionally manages Accent Dwelling Items, or “casitas” within the metropolis of Tucson. Whereas casitas are a part of Tucson’s historical past, in 2022 the mayor and Metropolis Council accredited an expanded use of beneath 1,000-square-foot models in an effort to determine extra reasonably priced housing in Tucson.
Lately, the division has been criticized for sluggish processing occasions, difficultly in getting new buildings to adjust to present code, and methods the division might hamstring infill and new growth.
Tucson Metropolis Supervisor Michael Ortega stated he was assured she “might be an distinctive addition to town’s management workforce” and that her “arrival marks an thrilling chapter” for the division.
“Her confirmed observe document, mixed together with her ardour for neighborhood engagement, will undoubtedly drive progress and contribute to the continued success of Tucson,” Ortega stated.