In our Heart Behind the Homes series, we are pleased to introduce you to the people who guide, design, build, and support each Brookline homeowner’s journey.
Their care and respect for both the craft of homebuilding and the people they serve reflects what Brookline calls “the Brookline way”—a commitment to building with intention and creating homes that become the foundation for everyday life.
"It's not just about building homes. It's about creating communities that people will be proud to call home."
Behind every Brookline community is a team of dedicated, hard-working people working to turn plans into reality.
In this edition of our
Heart Behind the Homes series, we're introducing you to Chanelle Brooks, whose role in permitting and purchasing helps lay the groundwork for every project, long before the first shovel ever hits the ground.
Chanelle has been with Brookline for more than four years and brings a background centered on organization, problem-solving, and coordinating the many moving pieces that keep projects on track.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and is always in the middle of a few craft and DIY projects, usually all at once!
She loves being part of the Brookline team and takes pride in helping projects move from "waiting on approval" to "let's build it!" We sat down with Chanelle to learn more about her role, the permitting process, and what it takes to bring our communities to life.
Most people think construction begins when equipment arrives on site. What actually happens before construction begins?
There's a whole lot happening behind the scenes. As a Permit Coordinator and Purchasing Assistant, I help make sure everything is lined up before construction can begin. That means securing permits, coordinating approvals, reviewing plans, ordering materials, working with vendors, and making sure the right resources are ready when the construction team needs them.
I like to say we're the people making sure the project can actually start. While everyone else sees a house being built, we're busy navigating paperwork, timelines, budgets, and vendor schedules behind the curtain.
By the time equipment arrives on site, we've already survived months of permits, approvals, purchase orders, emails, follow-ups, and probably enough coffee to qualify as a utility provider ourselves!
Can you walk us through the permitting process, from the moment plans are ready to when construction can officially begin?
The permitting process is a lot like preparing for a big event. Everyone sees the ribbon cutting, but there's a ton of work beforehand to make sure everything is ready.
Once the plans are finalized, we submit them to the appropriate municipalities for review. Depending on the location, multiple departments may need to approve them, including zoning, engineering, utilities, erosion control, and building inspections. That's when the waiting game begins... along with lots of follow-up emails and phone calls!
During the review process, comments often come back that require revisions or additional information. We work with engineers, architects, and project managers to address those comments and get everything resubmitted as quickly as possible.
At the same time, I'm also helping coordinate purchasing activities to make sure materials, vendors, and resources are lined up so we're not scrambling once approvals come through. Timing is everything because a permit doesn't do much good if the materials and trades aren't ready to go.
Once all approvals are received and permits are issued, we can finally give construction the green light. That's the moment everyone gets excited about, but by then, we've already spent weeks, and sometimes months, making sure every box was checked behind the scenes.
I like to joke that my job is part project coordinator, part detective, and part professional paperwork chaser. By the time construction begins, we've already completed a marathon of planning, approvals, purchasing, and coordination to set our construction team up for success.
Who is involved behind the scenes, and how do all those teams work together to move a project forward?
It takes a lot of teamwork behind the scenes to move a project forward. I work with engineers, architects, project managers, municipal reviewers, vendors, and trade partners to make sure permits, materials, and approvals are all in place.
My role is to help keep everyone connected and moving in the same direction. I like to think of it as being part traffic controller, part problem solver, part professional follow-up expert, and chaos coordinator! When everyone does their part and communicates well, the project moves smoothly from a set of plans to a home ready to be built.
It also helps that we are such a funny bunch that meshes well together!
What are some of the biggest challenges or misconceptions about the permitting process?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that permits are just a quick stamp of approval. In reality, the process involves multiple reviews, departments, and approvals, and each one helps ensure the project is safe and meets local requirements.
The biggest challenge is often coordinating all the moving pieces and timelines. I've learned that patience, organization, and strong communication are key.
When future homeowners see a new community taking shape, what do you wish they knew about everything that happens before construction begins, and how does that reflect Brookline's commitment to building great communities?
I wish future homeowners knew just how much happens before construction even begins.
That behind-the-scenes preparation is a big part of what makes Brookline's approach different. From the very beginning, there's a strong focus on planning, collaboration, and attention to detail to ensure every project is set up for success.
It's not just about building homes. It's about creating communities that people will be proud to call home. That commitment starts long before construction begins, and every permit approved, purchase order processed, and detail coordinated helps bring that vision to life.
