The City of Brownsville’s Planning and Redevelopment Department is rolling out a new online helper—G-Wiz—to make it faster and easier for residents and business owners to request permits.
G-Wiz guides users through a short series of narrowing questions and then points them to the required permit type. At a community session at eBridge, hosted by the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, Elena Davis, Accela Program Manager with the Planning and Redevelopment Department, demonstrated how the tool works.
When the questionnaire is finished, Davis explained, G-Wiz automatically creates a partial record in the permitting system and generates a custom project roadmap—a step-by-step checklist tailored to each project. The roadmap outlines typical submittal requirements, possible fees, and next steps so applicants can move forward with confidence.
“This is where G-Wiz is doing its magic. It will help you get on the right track,” Davis said.
G-Wiz will also flag if a proposed project site lies in a flood zone and advise whether applicants will need a licensed engineer or architect.
How G-Wiz helps
-Right permit, first try: Fewer misrouted applications and less back-and-forth.
-Time-saving partial record: Basic project information is pre-filled.
-Custom roadmap: A tailored checklist of documents, reviews, and typical milestones.
G-Wiz complements the City’s existing permitting services; in-person and phone assistance remain available for anyone who prefers one-on-one support.
Residents and business owners can access G-Wiz through the City’s online permitting portal on the Planning and Redevelopment webpage. Here’s the link: https://aca-prod.accela.com/brownsville/Default.aspx
