Due to the downturn in the building industry, some developers need to delay projects until market conditions improve.

Pierce County is taking steps to help those developers keep from losing their original investment in fees and applications.

Pierce County Public Works and Utilities announced that the sewer permit extension window that expired June 30 has been extended again, this time through December 31.

The action allows all sewer applications, approved plans and permits that would expire by the end of the year to remain valid for an additional 12 months.

Last fall, in accordance with the economic stimulus package for Pierce County, the County Council passed Ordinance 2008-115s, which allowed the Planning and Land Services Department to offer a 2-year time extension on active building permits, vesting rights, and other land-use development applications and approvals.

Through a policy revision, Public Works and Utilities offered a similar, but shorter extension to active sewer applicants.

The original policy change applied only to sewer applications that would have expired before July 1. Now those that will expire by the end of the year are also eligible for the one-year extension.

Sewer applications are processed in three phases, each having a one-year time limit. First, an application for a sewer connection is submitted, followed by construction plan approval, and ending with a county permit. Once the permit is issued, the applicant has one year to complete the sewer connection.