02-27-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Department Approval: Administrator Reviewed Name Jeremy Barnhart MR Title Community Development Director DATE: February 27, 2017 ITEM NO: 10 Agenda Section: Planning Department Report Item Description: Development Process Review Committee recommendations Application Summary The Development Process Review Committee has met twice since the beginning of the year, and with the goal of reducing bureaucratic red -tape and unbeneficial processes, have recommended changes. Some of these changes are implementable immediately, and some changes require an amendment to the City Code. Most of the changes to city code require review by the Planning Commission and a public hearing. The staff report provided to the Planning Commission will include analysis in greater detail; the Council is asked to authorize assignment of staff resources to complete this review. Escrow agreements. The Committee noted than most communities they work in do not require a separate escrow agreement. Much of the message of an escrow agreement can be inserted into the building permit application. It is common for the escrow agreement to add time to the review process, chasing signatures, etc. Escrow agreements are stipulated in the City Code in the following sections: Section 58-77, to guarantee the completion of repairs to a septic system in order to obtain a certificate of compliance, to the benefit of a buyer. The escrow agreement is between the buyer and the seller. This section only applied to septic systems. Section 86-68, to guarantee the provision of an as -built survey, required for new buildings and additions to buildings Section 78-147, as a guarantee to completion of a site plan, though described as a "letter of credit or cash deposit". Staff suggests eliminating escrow agreements for projects that do not include a new building or an addition to a building (confined to principal structures, per the Building Official) immediately, revising 86-68 to eliminate the escrow agreement reference completely, and revising 78-147 pertaining to the guarantee for site plans. Staff does not suggest removing the protection between buyers and sellers, in section 58-77.