The City of Houston    Date Modified: March 15, 2013 

  Planning and Development Department    Rev 1.1  

PPllaatt  TTrraacckkeerr  RReeggiissttrraattiioonn  aanndd  SSeettuupp  GGuuiiddee  

PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee

 The City of Houston  ‐2‐  Date Modified: March 15, 2013 

  Planning and Development Department    Rev 1.1 

CCoonntteennttss WelcometothePlatTracker..............................................................................................................................................4

PlatTrackerPortalPageFeatures....................................................................................................................................5

Registration/Login........................................................................................................................................................5

CurrentMessageBoard...............................................................................................................................................5

PublicLinks......................................................................................................................................................................5

GISMaps............................................................................................................................................................................5

SubmittalPeriod:Open/Close..................................................................................................................................5

CalendarofEvents.........................................................................................................................................................5

RegistrationOverview...........................................................................................................................................................6

NewOrganizationRegistration.........................................................................................................................................7

WhoShouldRegistertheOrganization?...................................................................................................................7

BeginRegistration..............................................................................................................................................................7

RoletheOrganizationUsers...........................................................................................................................................7

PrincipalContact............................................................................................................................................................7

Organization‐ApplicantUsers..................................................................................................................................8

CompletetheOrganizationandPrincipalContactProfile.................................................................................8

ApprovalProcess................................................................................................................................................................9

ManagingPersonalProfile.................................................................................................................................................10

LogintoPlatTracker.......................................................................................................................................................10

ApplicantWelcomeScreen...........................................................................................................................................10

ChangingYourPersonalProfile..................................................................................................................................11

RetrievingYourUsernameand/orPassword.......................................................................................................12

ManagingYourOrganizationProfile.............................................................................................................................12

StandardViewofOrganizationProfile....................................................................................................................13

ModifyingtheOrganizationProfile...........................................................................................................................13

ManageOrganizationUsers..............................................................................................................................................14

ViewOrganizationUsers...............................................................................................................................................14

AddNewUser.....................................................................................................................................................................15

UserStatusManagement...............................................................................................................................................16

PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee

 The City of Houston  ‐3‐  Date Modified: March 15, 2013 

  Planning and Development Department    Rev 1.1 

CreatinganApplication.......................................................................................................................................................16

  

PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee

 The City of Houston  ‐4‐  Date Modified: March 15, 2013 

  Planning and Development Department    Rev 1.1 

WWeellccoommee  ttoo  tthhee  PPllaatt  TTrraacckkeerr  ThePlatTrackerisdedicatedtocustomers(applicants)andareaagenciesthattakepartinthesubdivisionplattingofpropertywithinHouston’sextraterritorialjurisdiction.Applicantsarelandplannersandcivilengineerswhorepresentlandowners,developers,andbuilders.AnapplicantusesPlatTrackertoelectronicallysubmitapplicationsalongwithsupportingdocumentsforlanddevelopmentreview.ThematerialsaresubsequentlypresentedtoHouston’sPlanningCommissionforapproval.ThePlatTrackerallowstheapplicanttoviewtheprogressoftheirapplicationduringtheentireprocess.

RegionalagenciesaswellasPlanningandDevelopmentstaffusePlatTrackertoreviewfiles,routeinformation,communicatecomments,andperformotherkeybusinessprocessesrelatingtoHoustonarealanddevelopment.

ThepubliccankeepupwithlanddevelopmentproposalsintheirneighborhoodsbyviewinganddownloadingPlanningCommissionagendas,spreadsheetsregardingapplications,meetingminutes,andmore.

PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee

 The City of Houston  ‐5‐  Date Modified: March 15, 2013 

  Planning and Development Department    Rev 1.1 

PPllaatt  TTrraacckkeerr  PPoorrttaall  PPaaggee  FFeeaattuurreess  ThePlatTrackerportalpagefeaturesquickaccesslinksandinformationrelatingtothePlatTrackeraswellaslanddevelopmentingeneral:

RReeggiissttrraattiioonn//LLooggiinn  Registeranapplicantorganizationand/orLogontoPlatTracker.

CCuurrrreenntt  MMeessssaaggee  BBooaarrdd  PublicnoticespertainingtothePlanningandDevelopmentDepartment.

PPuubblliicc  LLiinnkkss  PublictoolsforlanddevelopmentresearchincludingaccesstoPlatTrackerstreetnameandsubdivisionnamecheckwithoutloggingin.

GGIISS  MMaappss  ViewpublicGISmapsoftheHoustonareaincludinghurricaneevacuationzones,trafficcameras,citycouncildistricts,parks,andmore.

SSuubbmmiittttaall  PPeerriioodd::  OOppeenn//CClloossee  PlanningCommissioncurrentagendasalongwithPlanningandDevelopmentDepartmentcontactinformation.

CCaalleennddaarr  ooff  EEvveennttss  PlanningCommissionmeetingdates,specialcityevents,andholidayschedule.UsesGoogleCalendartechnologyallowingyoutoaddthistoyourpersonalGooglecalendarwithasingleclick.

PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee

 The City of Houston  ‐6‐  Date Modified: March 15, 2013 

  Planning and Development Department    Rev 1.1 

RReeggiissttrraattiioonn  OOvveerrvviieeww  AllHoustonarealanddevelopersmustregistertheirorganizationinthePlatTrackerSystem.Onceapproved,theorganizationmaysubmitapplicationsanddocumentstoHouston’sPlanningCommissionforlanddevelopmentprojects.

Thefirststepistofillouttheonlineorganizationapplication.Next,theorganizationmustbeapprovedbyTheCityofHoustonPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment.Organizationapproval(orrejection)occurswithin48hours.Onceapproved,theindividualwhosubmittedtherequestwillreceivePlatTrackerlogininformationincludingausernameandtemporarypassword.ThediagramontherightisasummaryofthePlatTrackerorganizationregistrationprocess.

Note:  Agencies and planners are typically pre‐registered and pre‐approved by the Planning and 

Development Department.

  

PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee

 The City of Houston  ‐7‐  Date Modified: March 15, 2013 

  Planning and Development Department    Rev 1.1 

NNeeww  OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn  RReeggiissttrraattiioonn  

WWhhoo  SShhoouulldd  RReeggiisstteerr  tthhee  OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn??  

LeaderintheOrganization–individualinanorganizationwhowillbecomethePrincipalContactfortheirorganization.

ReviewingOrganization–memberofareviewingagencywhichparticipatesinthereviewingprocessofsubmittedplatapplications.Mostagencyorganizationsarepre‐registeredandpre‐approvedbytheCityofHoustonPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment.

BBeeggiinn  RReeggiissttrraattiioonn  

GotothePlatTrackerportalpage'Logon'form,andclickthelink,'RegisteritHere'.The'ApplicantOrganizationRegistration'pageexplainstheroleofthePrincipalContact,ApplicantOrganizationUsers,andReviewingAgencyUsers.Begintheregistrationprocessbyclicking'IwouldliketoregistermyApplicantOrganization/Company'.

RRoollee  tthhee  OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn  UUsseerrss  

PPrriinncciippaall  CCoonnttaacctt  TheindividualwhoregistersanorganizationisdesignatedasthePrincipalContactforthatorganization.Oncetheorganizationisapproved,thisindividualhastheauthoritytorevisetheirorganizationprofile,addnewusers,modifyuserstatus,anddelegatetheroleofPrincipalContacttoanotheruserwithintheorganization.He/shealsomaydraft,review,and/orsubmitapplicationson

PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee

 The City of Houston  ‐8‐  Date Modified: March 15, 2013 

  Planning and Development Department    Rev 1.1 

behalfoftheorganization.Itisimportanttonotethatonlyoneprincipalcontactisassignedforanyorganization.

OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn‐‐AApppplliiccaanntt  UUsseerrss  Allapplicantshavetherighttodraft,review,and/orsubmitapplicationsonbehalfoftheorganization.

CCoommpplleettee  tthhee  OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn  aanndd  PPrriinncciippaall  CCoonnttaacctt  PPrrooffiillee  

OrganizationName–Enteryourorganizationslowly(onecharacteratatime).Asyoutypeeachcharacter,alistwilldisplaybelowtheorganizationnamefieldshowingorganizationspreviouslyapprovedinthePlatTracker.Ifyourorganizationappearsinthelist,pleasedonotattempttoregisteritasecondtime.

PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee

 The City of Houston  ‐9‐  Date Modified: March 15, 2013 

  Planning and Development Department    Rev 1.1 

PrincipalContact–RecallthattheindividualwhoregistersanorganizationisthePrincipalContactforthatorganization.Onceapproved,he/shemayupdatecompanyinformation,addusers,andmodifythestatusoftheusers,anddelegatetheroleofPrincipalContacttoanotheruserintheorganization.

Address–Organizationofficeandmailingaddress

AftercompletingtheApplicantOrganizationRegistrationrequestform,clickthe'Submit'button.Ifanyrequiredinformationismissing,amessage(s)willappearonthescreen(seebelow).Ifthisoccurs,completeallmissingrequiredinformationandre‐submit.Asuccessfulsubmissionofyourrequestisconfirmedimmediatelyviaemail.

AApppprroovvaall  PPrroocceessss  

Pleaseallow24to48hoursforapproval.IfyourorganizationisapprovedbythePlanningandDevelopmentDepartment,youwillbenotifiedviaemailincludingausernameandtemporarypassword(below).Organizationsthataredisapprovedwillalsoreceiveemailnotification.Occasionally,alegitimateorganizationisdisapproved.Ifthisoccurs,pleasecontactthePlanningandDevelopmentDepartmentforassistance.ForacompletelistofPlatTrackeremailcorrespondence,seetheexternaldocument'PlatTrackerEmailNotification'.

Approved:LoginIDandTemporaryPassword

PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee

 The City of Houston  ‐10‐  Date Modified: March 15, 2013 

  Planning and Development Department    Rev 1.1 

MMaannaaggiinngg  PPeerrssoonnaall  PPrrooffiillee  

LLooggiinn  ttoo  PPllaatt  TTrraacckkeerr  

Foryoursecurity,PlatTrackerrecommendsthatallnewapplicantsloginandchangetheirtemporarypasswordimmediately.RecallthatthelogonscreencanbefoundonthePlatTrackerSystemportalpage.

AApppplliiccaanntt  WWeellccoommee  SSccrreeeenn  

ImmediatelyafterloggingintoPlatTracker,applicantswillseethe"WelcometothePlatTracker"page.Hereyouwillfindimportantcurrentinformation(LatestNewsandGeneralMessage)regardingtheplanningdepartmentandplanningcommission.Inaddition,thereareavarietyoflinksthatcouldbeusefulinapplicationresearch(PlatTrackerLinks).Itisagoodideatocheckthispagebrieflyeachtimeyouloginasthepageisupdatedregularly.

PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee

 The City of Houston  ‐11‐  Date Modified: March 15, 2013 

  Planning and Development Department    Rev 1.1 

CChhaannggiinngg  YYoouurr  PPeerrssoonnaall  PPrrooffiillee  

Youruserprofileincludingusernameandpasswordareaccessiblebyselectingthemenuoptions:'User/UpdateMyProfile'.Thiswillopenyourpersonalprofilepage:'MyProfile'.

Theprofilepageallowsyoutoupdateyourusername,password,andpersonalcontactinformation.

Usernameandpasswordrequirements:

Username:6‐25characterscomposedoflettersandnumbers(nospecialcharacters)Password:8‐25characterscomposedoflettersandnumbers(nospecialcharacters)

Note:  For security purposes, you must enter your current password when changing Username or 

Password.  

Enteryourusernameandpasswordrevisions,andclickthe'ChangeUsername/Password'buttontosaveyourchanges.Note:duplicateusernamesarenotallowedinPlatTracker.Ifaduplicateisdetected,anerrormessagewilldisplayandyourusernameand/orpasswordwillnotbechanged.

Yourcurrentcontactinformationisdisplayedatthebottomofthepage.Enterrevisionsintheboxesontheright.Clickthe'Update'buttontofinalizeyourrevision.Updatesarepostedimmediately.

PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee

 The City of Houston  ‐12‐  Date Modified: March 15, 2013 

  Planning and Development Department    Rev 1.1 

RReettrriieevviinngg  YYoouurr  UUsseerrnnaammee  aanndd//oorr  PPaasssswwoorrdd  

GotothelogonformonthePlatTrackerportalpage.Clickthelink:"Forgotyour'UsernameorPassword'."Next,youwillseeapromptrequestingyourorganizationnameandpersonalemailaddress.(the'LoginAssistance'page)

Typeyourorganizationnameslowly(pausingaftereachletter).Youmaytypeanycharactersintheorganizationnameaslongastheyareconsecutive.Whenyouseeyourorganizationnameinthegoldbox,simplyclicktohighlightthename.

Enteryouremailaddress,andclickthebutton:'GetMyUsername/Password'.IfyourorganizationandemailaddressexistinthePlatTracker,youwillreceiveanautomaticemailincludingyourusernameandpassword.

MMaannaaggiinngg  YYoouurr  OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn  PPrrooffiillee  AnyvalidPlatTrackeruserinyourorganizationmayviewtheorganizationprofile.However,changestotheprofilearelimitedtothecurrentPrincipalContactfortheorganization.Toviewthecurrentprofile,selectmenuoption'Organization/MyOrganizationProfile'.

Highlightyourorganization

PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee

 The City of Houston  ‐13‐  Date Modified: March 15, 2013 

  Planning and Development Department    Rev 1.1 

SSttaannddaarrdd  VViieeww  ooff  OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn  PPrrooffiillee  

Organizationprofiledetailsvisibletoallorganizationusers.(screenshotonright)

  

MMooddiiffyyiinngg  tthhee  OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn  PPrrooffiillee  

Theprincipalcontacthastheauthoritytorevisetheorganization’sprofile.Theorganization’sinformationcurrentlyinthePlatTrackerisdisplayedontheleftsideofthescreen.Allchangesmustbeenteredintheboxesontheright.Simplytypeallrevisionsintheappropriateboxes,andclickthe'Update'buttontosubmitthenewinformation.(seebelow)

PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee

 The City of Houston  ‐14‐  Date Modified: March 15, 2013 

  Planning and Development Department    Rev 1.1 

MMaannaaggee  OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn  UUsseerrss  AfterloggingintoPlatTracker,alluserswithintheorganizationmayviewthestatusofanyuserlistedforthatorganization.Theserecordsarevisibleregardlessofuserstatus:"Active"(maylogon)or"Inactive"(maynotlogon).Toviewtheusers,selectthemenu'Organization/MyOrganizationUsers'.

VViieeww  OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn  UUsseerrss  

Belowistheviewofusersasseenbyallactiveorganizationuserswithintheorganization.Noticethattheprincipalcontact’srecordishighlighted.Also,theprincipalcontact’sstatusisalwayslistedas"Active".

  

PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee

 The City of Houston  ‐15‐  Date Modified: March 15, 2013 

  Planning and Development Department    Rev 1.1 

AAdddd  NNeeww  UUsseerr  

Theprincipalcontactmaycreateanewuserforhis/herorganization.Firstclickthe'CreateNewUserAccount'.

Enterthenewuser’sinformationintoform(shownbelow)thenclickthe'Add'button.AmessagewilldisplayaftertherecordissuccessfullyaddedintothePlatTrackerandthenewuserwillreceiveanemailwithlogoninstructions.Youhavetheoptiontocanceltheprocesspriortoaddingtheuser.Dothisbyclickingthe'Cancel'button.

Note: Required fields are designated with an asterisk (*). Failure to fill in one of these fields will result 

in an error message. The user will be added in Plat Tracker after ALL required fields are completed. 

PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee

 The City of Houston  ‐16‐  Date Modified: March 15, 2013 

  Planning and Development Department    Rev 1.1 

UUsseerr  SSttaattuuss  MMaannaaggeemmeenntt  

Userstatusiseither"Active"or"Inactive".AnactiveusermaylogintothePlatTrackerwhereasaninactiveuserdoesnothaveaccesstothesystem.Theprincipalcontactcanchangeauser’sstatusfrom"Active"to"Inactive"byclickingthe'Deactivate'buttonforthatuser.Likewise,aninactiveaccountcanbeactivatedbyclickingthe'Active'button.

Inaddition,theprincipalcontactmaydelegateany"Active"userasthenewprincipalcontactsimplybyclickingthe'SetAsPC'buttonforthatuser.Thisresultsin:

1. PlatTrackerimmediatelyassignsthenewuserasthecurrentprincipalcontact.2. Theoriginalprincipalcontactisimmediatelyassignedtheroleoftheuserreplacing

him/her.3. TheoriginalprincipalcontactisimmediatelyloggedoutofthePlatTrackerforcinghim/her

tologinwithnewcredentials.

CCrreeaattiinngg  aann  AApppplliiccaattiioonn  Theprocessofcreatinganapplicationisexplainedintheexternaldocument"PlatTrackerApplicantUserGuide".