I can’t believe I’m saying this, but where the hell is this guy’s planning permit?

Three years covering urban affairs in Sydney made me highly critical of planning systems – in NSW, certainly, but also more broadly.

The east wing of the White House is demolished to make way for a new ballroom.Credit: Bloomberg

Typically, there is no level of minutiae that planners don’t want to be involved in. Whether it’s zoning, building heights, setbacks, heritage or window sizes, you can bet there’s a rule for it and a convoluted process to follow.

Indeed, City of Sydney council planners are assessing a development application from Deicorp to put temporary, non-illuminated signage bearing the company’s name on two cranes that will construct a residential building in Zetland.

That’s right – a developer has to seek permission to put its name on its crane. And council officers have to spend time evaluating this proposal.

But in Washington, it........

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