01/14/2008 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

• • • AGENDA ITEM 6 B STAFF ORIGINATOR: Jeff Smyser C. C. MEETING DATE: January 14, 2008 TOPIC: First Reading, Ordinance No. 01- 08 Amending The Zoning Ordinance To Establish A Time Limit For Completion of Exterior Improvements To Structures ACTION: 3/5 BACKGROUND There have been a number of instances around the city in which property owners obtain building permits but then the work is not completed for extended periods of time. When this leaves unfinished work on the exterior of the building, it can be an eyesore for neighboring property owners and lead to deterioration of building materials. The attached Ordinance No. 01 -08 amends the Zoning Ordinance to establish add a time limit for completion of work on building exteriors. Staff recommends dispensing with reading the ordinance in full. ANALYSIS The proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance would require that work on the exterior of a building be completed within a specified amount of time after the building permit is issued. The time period is longer for larger multifamily buildings and commercial buildings. The Zoning Ordinance currently includes time frames for conditional use permits: work must begin within one year and "substantial construction" must take place within three years. For site plans, work must begin within six months. These do not address completing the work on the exterior of the building and if a project that is not part of a CUP or site plan review there are no time frame requirements at all. Section 3 of the Zoning Ordinance is the general provisions. Subdivsion 4. addresses general building and use provisions. The amendment would be added at the end of this subdivision. Proposed new text is shown underlined. As this amendment to the Zoning Ordinance originates with staff, there is no applicant. Nonetheless, an amendment to the Ordinance requires a public hearing to allow for public comment. A notice of the public hearing was published in the official newspaper as required. The Planning & Zoning Board conducted a public hearing on December 12, 2007 and recommended approval.