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! 1 VII. Administration <br />t i <br />A. Building Permit ProcessSince the hardcover ordinance was adopted in 1975, it has only been <br />enforced in conjunction with the building permit process. Any request <br />for a building permit for work outside the existing building envelope <br />triggers a hardcover review. This is authorized under Zoning Code <br />Section 10.03, Subd. 4, which is a 'catch-all' statement making it <br />unlawful to "convert, enlarge, reconstruct or alter any structure or use <br />any structure or land for any purpose nor in any manner which is not <br />in conformity with the Zoning Chapter." Hardcover reviews have not <br />been required in conjunction with interior remodeling, residing or <br />reroofing permits. <br />Hardcover review worksheets and instructions are included in the <br />City's building permit application packet. The Building Department <br />reviews the submitted surveys and hardcover calculations and <br />determines from the submitted information whether hardcover <br />standards are met. If not, the applicant is advised of the problem and <br />is allowed to either revise the proposal to bring it into conformity, or <br />apply for a variance. <br />B. No'Hardcover Permit' Established <br />; .3 <br />Orono has never established a 'hardcover permit', that is, a permit to <br />allow the placement or installation of hardcover items which otherwise <br />are not subject to a building permit. Such unregulated items include <br />construction of landscape beds, as well as the paving of sidewalks, <br />patios or driveways. <br />This lack of a permit allows homeowners to place themselves in <br />violation of the hardcover ordinance without any authorization or <br />review by the City. A homeowner might become aware of the <br />hardcover violation only at the time he/she applies for a building <br />permit for an unrelated project. The result is that a property may be in <br />violation for many years before the City has an opportunity to gain <br />some degree of compliance. <br />Establishment of a hardcover permit would likely result in significantly <br />greater costs to homeowners, since even those in compliance would <br />presumably be required via an expensive survey to prove their project