ePlan Submittal

ePlan Submittal is the name for our computerized system providing for the digital submittal and review of planning applications. This system was implemented in 2009 to replace the paper based approach that had been used for over 50 years.

Yes. Effective July 2, 2009, all applications submitted to the Planning Department will be processed - submitted and reviewed using ePlan Submittal.

ePlan Submittal builds off of the current Planning application process. It does not significantly alter the basic steps in the process for either those submitting applications or those reviewing applications. Rather, ePlan Submittal employs readily available World Wide Web technology to ease the submittal and review of applications.

All Planning Department applications will be managed through the ePlan Submittal system.

The simple answer is "no." There will remain times when traditional paper copies of documents will be necessary to meet current statutory requirements. The two most common instances for paper copies will be:

Your availability to a personal computer with Web access is a vital part of ePlan Submittal. The uploading of application files and communications regarding your application will be handled primarily via email and the Web. If you do not have a personal computer or access to one, all City Library locations have computers you may use for free, although you will need a valid email address.

ePlan Submittal utilizes a web based application called ProjectDox. You will need to use a web browser such as Chrome and a connection to the Internet. You will need to install the ProjectDox components the first time you use ePlan Submittal. Administrator rigths are required for this install.

Previously, Internet Explorer was the preferred browser for compatibility with ProjectDox. That browser is no longer supported by Microsoft. Applicants and most reviewers should have success using Chrome as a replacement browser. For reviewers who use the “Align” and “Nudge” tools, you have the option to use Microsoft Edge browser using Internet Explorer mode(PDF, 255KB).

Launch your browser and go to the ePlan Submittal website https://pdox.lincoln.ne.gov/ProjectDox/index.aspx?. Turn off any pop up blocker you may have enabled. Click on "Install ProjectDox Components". Choose "Run" on the window that pops up. Follow the prompts to complete the installation. 

The term "pdf" stands for Portable Document Format. This format was created by Adobe Systems in the mid-1990's for the exchange of digital files. On July 1, 2008, Adobe Systems officially released the "pdf" format for general non-propriety usage.

Because of its widespread use, most word-processing, graphic, and spreadsheet software have built-in publishing routines to create pdf's. Both Word© and WordPerfect©, have embedded software which allows the user to easily create a pdf file. This embedded software can be found in the "Save As" command in Word, and in the "File" menu with a specific "Publish to" command in WordPerfect.

To maintain legibility of uploaded documents, we recommend that resolution not be dropped below 600 dpi on drawings and not below 300 dpi on text documents.

Other than vector (i.e. CAD) files, all documents are to be submitted (a.k.a. uploaded) using the pdf format. This includes letters, reports, plan drawings, images, and all other supporting documentation.

Enable the "Optimize for PDF/Postscript printing" option on the print dialogue window. Select the print icon and check the option to "Optimize for PDF/Postscript printing."

A project that shows an "In Progress" status is one that is in process, not yet acted on. A project that shows a "Resubmittal Requested" status is one that is pending resubmittal by the Application Contact. A project that shows a "Pending Final Approved Plans" has received Approval with Conditions and will be complete once the Final Approved Plans have been submitted. A project that shows a "Complete" status has been acted on.

Based on feedback and requests from users, completed projects will remain on the system so involved parties can review the information even after the project has been acted on.

Filing an application does NOT begin with ePlan Submittal. The first step is to submit your application form and filing fee to the Planning Department. Your project will be assigned to a Project Planner who will enter the information into our application tracking system. The system will create a ProjectDox project for your application. At that time, the designated ProjectDox contact on your application form will receive an email prompt to upload the files to complete the application submittal. The email address submitted on the application form is the email to be used on the ProjectDox log in screen.

Yes - at least for the time being. The long term plan would allow applications to be filed on-line, thus eliminating the need for an applicant to come into our office. Before direct on-line application filing can occur, there will need to be advances in the software and a web-based mechanism put in place for the payment of application fees.

Documents to bring to the Planning Department include:

You will have until 8:00 a.m. the following business day to upload your files onto the ePlan Submittal website.

The cut off date for application filings is noon every other Wednesday. The digital files supporting your application must be uploaded onto the ePlan Submittal system by 8:00 a.m. on Thursday (i.e., next business day) in order to meet the deadline requirements.

Yes. As of February 2018, both the City and County adopted text amendments to require CAD submittals. Specifically, final plat drawings are required to be submitted using CAD files. For preliminary plats, use permits, planned unit developments and community unit plans, CAD files are only required to be submitted for the boundary survey and street centerline information.

If you have more than one person requiring notification of events on your application, provide the additional names and email addresses to be added to the project by the Project Coordinator.

For plans and documents not in a final form, the answer is typically "yes" they are acceptable. The Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects has ruled that such seals "may be generated electronically" within certain provisions. The City's Public Works and Utilities Department has posted their understanding of the Board's rules and regulations on their website.

The City's Public Works and Utilities Department has prepared a set of instructions on how to attach such seals using Adobe Acrobat Professional.

The Lancaster County Engineer's Office and City Information Services Division have created a website that allows anyone who creates a "MyInterLinc" account to download the geographic coordinates needed for the CAD files. There is no charge for this service. "MyInterLinc" is merely a means the City Information Services Division applies to monitor access to certain portions of InterLinc.

Easements for various public utilities are a basic element on many planning applications. To assist you in laying out the easement locations for your application, review the "Easement Acquisition Guidelines(PDF, 30KB)" used by LES. LES and the other utility companies will still be reviewing your plans for easement locations, but having them correctly displayed on your initial submittal will speed the review process.

In order to complete your review and remove the task from your task list, you must click on the "My Review Complete" button on the eForm.

ePlan Submittal does not currently support 3rd party markups. All markups must be created within the viewer that opens the pdf file.

Use the Email tool within ProjectDox to communicate with the Project Coordinator about the project.

There is no way to forward your reviews to someone else. We suggest setting up a rule to forward review task notifications to your backup. That person would then need to contact the Project Coordinator to be added to the project. For more information see the ePlan Submittal Tips & Tricks below.

The "Save and Close" button on the eForm allows you to save your work and finish it later. You can also save your markups on the pdf files and return later to edit or add to them. For more information see the ePlan Submittal Tips & Tricks below.

Add ProjectDox to your desktop or Favorites.

Located at the lower right of the ProjectDox login screen are the options to add a shortcut to your desktop or add ProjectDox to your favorites.

Drag and drop the desktop shortcut icon to your desk top. Click "yes" when asked if you want to move or copy files from this zone. Double click the icon on your desktop to access the the ProjectDox log in screen directly.

You can also click on the far right link to add ProjectDox to your favorites.

Maximize your viewer window by opening files in a new window.

By default, the file will open on the right hand side of the same window. To open files in a new window, select the new window option before opening the file. This will make the viewer window larger and easier to see.

If you are having a hard time seeing elements on the pdf drawing, try changing the background color in the viewer to something other than white.

This can make items that were difficult to see stand out.

Set an email rule to forward review request to someone else in your office.

Most, if not all, email clients (eg. Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes) allow you to set up email rules that automatically process incoming email messages.

You could set a rule that checks the subject line of incoming messages when they arrive for the phrase "New Task Assigned - Department Review" and forwards that to someone in your office. (Example shown is Microsoft Outlook.)

That person would then simply call the Project Coordinator (Planner) and ask to be added to the project to complete the review in your absense.

Remember to turn off the rule when you get back in the office.

Save Your eForm Comments without completing your task.

Use the Save & Close button to save your work without completing your workflow task. This allows you to finish later if you are interrupted or need to do additional research before submitting your comments to the Project Coordinator (Planner). It also saves your work in the event of ProjectDox logging you out automatically due to the system idle time out.

When you have finished and are ready to send your comments to the Planner, click the "My Review Complete" button for Reviewers or "Complete" for Application Contacts.