Why the new planning software could actually help builders in New Paltz.

February 17, 2025.

The Builder.

At the February 10 Planning Board meeting, two guests from a company called MuniCollab gave a short presentation. If you blinked, you might’ve missed it — but if you’ve ever tried to build in New Paltz, you were probably listening closely.

MuniCollab is a software platform the town is about to start using to manage land-use applications: building permits, site plans, subdivision approvals — basically, the stuff that makes most builders and homeowners groan.

They claim it will allow:

• Consultants and applicants to submit documents digitally

• Board members and staff to track and comment within the system

• The public to access project records (with sensitive materials restricted)

• Applicants to get help via in-app guidance or support from staff

As someone who has spent way too much time chasing the various town Boards and Committees for misplaced PDFs, waiting for attachments, or wondering where in the process a review sits, this tool is a breath of fresh air. Total visibility and transparency with one tool for all committees.

Of course, software doesn’t fix broken or overly complex policies. But it does make the process visible — and that’s half the battle. If we can see the complexity, then maybe, with some resident involvement and community pressure we can start to make the whole process simpler.

I’ve watched too many property owners — especially small ones who don’t get to do this very often — get lost in the bureaucracy. With luck, MuniCollab can make the process feel less like a black box and more like a real conversation.

We’ll see if it delivers. But for the first time in a while, this feels like progress.