04-27-2015 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 27, 2015 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 21 4. #15-3711 CITY OF ORONO – AMEND CHAPTER 86-68 TO MODIFY SURVEY REQUIREMENTS FOR MINOR PROJECTS/ADDITIONS (continued) Within the list of proposed amendments was a text amendment which proposed two things: One, introduced a required separate zoning permit for landscaping for new home permits; and two, modified the requirement for submittal of a certificate of survey for minor building and site grading permits by allowing a site plan signed by a licensed professional if an existing survey is on file for small additions, decks, grading work, etc. At the present time a large percentage of the post-building permit issues Staff encounters are associated with unpermitted or unapproved landscaping changes or additions to the building permit-approved plan. Oftentimes a builder will have a plan prepared which meets the City’s requirements for grading, hardcover, etc., but is not the finished landscape the homeowner desires. Upon the home’s completion, a landscape professional will be contracted to provide a finished yard for the homeowner that may involve additional hardcover or modifies the approved grading plan. This results in a site that does not conform to the approved plan and delays the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. Curtis noted a revised draft ordinance was placed before the Council this evening following some changes recommended by the City Attorney. Staff is proposing to institute a requirement for a separate landscaping permit to be issued to the landscape contractor with the building permit at the time of building permit issuance and prior to commencement of any landscaping on the property. The initial draft language contemplated a zoning permit at the end of the project. Curtis noted a sample site plan and permit have been included in the Council’s packet. Staff suggests changing the code language to allow for submittal of a site plan for a proposed project when signed by a licensed professional. The site plan is a drawing prepared to scale showing proposed structures, grading, etc., and is typically based on the certificate of survey. The certificate of survey is a record of what exists at the time of the survey and must be prepared by a registered engineer or surveyor. Staff is also proposing the following as a housekeeping item: Signed permits are not currently included within the list of required permits and should be added for consistency. In addition, permits for water wells are obtained through the Minnesota Department of Health and not the City and should therefore be removed from the City required permits. The draft ordinance accomplishes the following: 1. Adds sign permit to the list of required building permits in Section 86-66(a) and removes water wells; 2. Establishes a requirement for a separate zoning permit for any landscaping work associated with a building permit in Section 86-68(b); and 3. Allows for a site plan prepared by a licensed professional to be submitted in the place of an updated survey for building and grading permits in certain situations. The site plan must conform to the City’s survey and site plan requirements as outlined on Exhibit B. The language does not allow submittal of a site plan instead of a survey for new homes or complete reconstructs. Curtis stated the Council should consider adopting or amending the draft ordinance.