Overview of Peer Review

The pace of private development has increased in many municipalities as suburbanization increases in some communities, while redevelopment pushes forward in others. Populations are generally increasing, and people are taking up more space with larger houses and greater demands on communities. These demands can strain infrastructure and staff, and poor developments have measurable and sometimes unquantifiable impacts on the quality of life in any community, both positive and negative. While some communities continue to use only in-house staff to review developments, many are beginning to realize the toll that it takes on their staff's time and the inherent unfairness of concentrating these "services", unpaid, on the development community. As the pace of development increases, smart communities leverage their staff by hiring peer review firms like CEI to provide uniform, high quality reviews and inspections at the developer's cost. Advantages of choosing CEI for these services include:

CEI does not typically work for developers so there is no conflict of interest as there is with most other firms who do peer reviews.
Our extensive experience in peer reviews is unmatched by others. This is a specialty for CEI, not just a sideline.
The firm's years of review services have helped us to hone and test our in-house design standards to a higher level than any other firm, so "best engineering practice" is truly the best.

CEI can help control the quality of new developments by providing peer review services that put the community's overall best interests first, minimizing the infrastructure impacts as much as possible.

Relevant Project Experience

CEI has provided plan and peer review services for over a hundred projects for municipalities and other agencies throughout New England. Most of these involved working cooperatively with the developer to work out design issues in the best interests of the community while recognizing the cost impacts of some types of changes to the developer. Since CEI does not typically work directly for developers, the Chain-of-Command is clear and our client, the community is who we represent. All communications are done at the direction of the client, however, and these can be formal or informal with the developer at the client's request.

Plan Review

CEI has done hundreds of peer reviews for Planning, Zoning, Public Works or Engineering, Conservation, Water, Wastewater, and Health Boards and Departments, or in some cases works directly with the Town Administrator or Executive Secretary. CEI may act as the engineering representative for the community, or may provide Peer Review Services for controversial projects.

CEI's peer review services are unique in that we provide comprehensive comments form a diverse array of expertise areas, including:

up-to-date stormwater design;
the latest water supply and wastewater considerations including security;
landscape design and wetlands issues;
integrated transportation considerations;
infrastructure impacts including any potential town maintenance.

Most engineers that review plans look only at the infrastructure impacts, but because of CEI's diversity we have the ability to provide a more comprehensive review that results in better, more environmentally sound projects that won't burden the town later with intensive maintenance issues.

Presentation and/or Liaison with Oversight Boards

CEI staff regularly present to or liaison with oversight boards for peer review projects. We also have done Comprehensive Reviews under affordable housing laws, providing Planning Board and other liaison services to communities to assist in getting comprehensive towns comments together. CEI's reputation is immaculate and we have kept our credibility high over the years by honesty and a keen attention to detail. Many municipal clients have come to rely on CEI's opinion and good standing in recommending actions and responses to development and other issues.

Inspection Services

CEI has provided inspection services for many dozens of projects in the last few years alone. Our experienced staff act as the client's representative, while never overstepping our bounds as a consultant. We are careful to keep our clients as safe as possible from claims and other changes through detailed documentation and extensive training for our construction inspectors.